How to Keep Your Personal Health Record

My Personal Health Record is a valuable website that includes a guide to help you be a more active participant in managing your personal health information, ensuring complete documentation of your treatment and medical history. 

For Additional Safety

Lifeline Systems
Pendant - when pressed, alerts local monitoring station that the wearer needs help. Increases safety and independence, especially for those who live alone.
(800) 635-6156.

MedicAlert Foundation
Bracelets or pendants with phone number for 24-hour emergency medical information
(800) 825-3785

Prevention Resources

2 Minute Breast Exam
This website is a project of Dr. William Goodson, a breast surgeon who has practiced in San Francisco, California for over 25 years. Dr. Goodson believes that "all women should have an annual clinical breast exam and that each breast should  be examined for at least one minute (2 minutes for both breasts).This website includes a free online video designed to educate the public and doctors about both the importance and how to do a complete breast exam. This is definitely a case of the old phrase: "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...."

For help, call National Crisis Resource Center, 800-273-TALK (8255) or go to www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org which will direct you to a local resource center.

Illness-Related Foundations and Websites

American Chronic Pain Association

Arthritis Foundation

Diabetes Society

Humor, Grace and Music are some of the gifts that Ric Masten had in his bag of tricks before he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. This site includes his "one-liners" drawings and personal experiences.
www.ric-masten.net

Mended Hearts
Grass roots organization, run by people who have heart disease.

Multiple Sclerosis
www.nmss.org and  www.msconnection.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness
This grass-roots self help organization's mission is: "Informing, educating and supporting people with mental illness and their families."

National Mental Health Consumers Self Help Clearinghouse
Self Help Group Referrals (800) 553 4539

National Mental Health Association
(800) 969-NMHA

National Organization for Rare Disorders

Pharmacy (Mail-Order) with consulting pharmacist H.H.C.S. Health Group  www.hhcs.com

Sickle Cell Anemia
(800) 421-8453

SITES FOR PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL ILLNESS & THEIR LOVED ONES 

CaringBridge
Personal web sites for those experiencing significant life events.
CaringBridge is a non-profit organization that offers free, personalized web sites to those wishing to stay in touch with family and friends during significant life events. CaringBridge authors craft messages that are informative and reflect a special sensitivity to privacy issues. At each web site, well-wishers can read updates about the subject and leave messages in the Guestbook.

Lotsa Helping Hands
Helps friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors assist loved ones in need manage and coordinate offers of help.

TWELVE STEP RECOVERY PROGRAMS

Al-Anon (for families and friends of alcoholics)
Alcoholics Anonymous
Debtors Anonymous
Food Addicts Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous
Sexual Compulsives Anonymous 

RESOURCES FOR AGING

AARP: American Association of Retired Persons
America's largest organization that represents people over 50. Their website has a wide range of helpful pieces about coping with health problems, planning for retirement.

The National Council on Aging - Benefits CheckUp
Are You Getting all the Government Benefits You Are Entitled To? The NCOA reports that 5 million older adults are currently missing out on benefit programs that can provide help with health care, transportation, housing, energy assistance, and other services. Benefit CheckUp is a free, easy-to use public service that will help you find out what benefits you qualify for and how to get them.

ADVOCACY RESOURCES

The Department of Justice
Maintains an ADA Information Line to assist the public in understanding and interpreting the Americans with Disabilities Act. Line also provides contact information for the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, and other agencies with regulatory responsibility under the ADA
(800) 514-0301 (voice), (800) 514-0383 (TTD)

Cystic Fibrosis Legal Information Hotline
Free, general legal information resource about laws designed for people with cystic fibrosis, their caregivers, and others.
(800) 622-0385

Independent Living Centers
Services and resources for individuals with disabilities. "Definition of a Center for Independent Living from Section 702 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended: Center for Independent Living. The term `center for independent living' means a consumer controlled, community based, cross disability, nonresidential private nonprofit agency that is designed and operated within a local community by individuals with disabilities and provides an array of independent living services." To find your local center contact your local department of rehabilitation, call (713) 520 0232 or send an email to: ilru@ilru.org. The Calironia Forundation for Independent Living Centers has a section entitled Find an Independent Living Center in California.

Protection and Advocacy, Inc. (PAI)
Nonprofit providing legal assistance to people with disabilities, striving to "protect, advocate for, and advance their human, legal, and service rights."
(800) 776-5746 (voice/TTY)

The National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives
Helps those denied Social Security Disability Insurance
(800) 431-2804

Social Security Disability Secrets "Tips, secrets and advice to win social security disability (SSDI, SSD) & SSI Benefits:"

INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ABOUT ADVANCED HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES

The American Bar Association's toolkit
To help you plan for how you want your health care decisions handled when and if you are unable to speak for yourself in an emergency as well as detailed information about issues to consider when planning for end-of-life choices.

drkoop.com
Major Health Search Engines

Coming soon:
a medical library designed to be used by individuals who are not health care professionals. If you become a member you can order full text medical articles through Loansome Docs.

National Center for Health Statistics
United States' principle health statistics agency, part of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Statistical Resources on the Web

Consumer Reports Best Buys on Drugs  

Note: If you have a non-profit resource that you think others would benefit from knowing about, please contact Dr. Steiner to have the information included here.

DISCLAIMER
This website is designed for educational purposes, and is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological care. This website is privately and individually supported by Dr. Steiner and does not accept or host any advertising. All information posted on this site is the opinion of the author and is provided for educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as medical advice. Products, resources and services are mentioned on this site because of their relevance to the mission of this site.