The HealthCentral Network
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The HealthCentral Network [1]is a suite of twenty-five condition-specific sites, each devoted to connecting both patients and caregivers to in-depth information, video, management tools, community, resources and support. Each of the sites allow individuals to find information and answers to their questions, take action, and connect with others. The “Just Diagnosed” section on each site, for example, provides information an individual needs immediately following diagnosis: questions to ask their doctor, books to read, how to talk to children, family and friends, co-workers, and more.
Among the distinctive features of these sites are expert patient bloggers, who share their experiences and expertise, interpret the news, and give feedback to individuals undergoing similar experiences. Their involvement has helped to foster a welcoming and supportive community, connecting individuals with others who understand what they are going through. These expert patient stories are complemented by blogs from doctors, who are able to provide medical information and answer questions from the community.
There is also original content from doctors, researchers and expert patients, as well as news, information, video and other multimedia from sources such as A.D.A.M, HealthDay News and Ivanhoe. Dr. Dean Edell[[2]] is also featured on healthcentral.com [3]
The twenty-five condition-specific sites range in topics, from wellness (diet & exercise, sleep), cardiovascular (heart disease, cholesterol, and high blood pressure), pain (chronic pain, migraine, rheumatoid arthritis), aging (alzheimer's, incontinence), cancer (breast cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer) to mental (depression, bipolar, anxiety) and sexual health (ED, genital herpes).
The sites are:
Alzheimer’s disease (OurAlzheimers.com)
Anxiety (AnxietyConnection.com)
Bipolar Disorder (BipolarConnect.com)
Depression (MyDepressionConnection.com)
Migraine (MyMigraineConnection.com)
Schizophrenia (SchizophreniaConnection.com)
Acid Reflux Disease (AcidRefluxConnection.com)
Allergies (MyAllergyNetwork.com)
Asthma (MyAsthmaCentral.com)
Breast Cancer (MyBreastCancerNetwork.com)
Cholesterol (CholesterolNetwork.com)
Chronic Pain (ChronicPainConnection.com)
Diabetes (MyDiabetesCentral.com)
Diet & Exercise (MyDietExercise.com)
Erectile Dysfunction (ErectileDysfunctionConnection.com)
Herpes (HerpesConnection.com)
Heart Disease (MyHeartCentral.com)
Blood Pressure (HighBloodPressureConnection.com)
Incontinence (IncontinenceNetwork.com)
Osteoarthritis (MyOsteoarthritisCentral.com)
Osteoporosis (OsteoporosisConnection.com)
Prostate (ProstateCommons.com)
Rheumatoid Arthritis (MyRACentral.com)
Skin Cancer (SkinCancerConnection.com)
Sleep (MySleepCentral.com)
Some good examples of what these sites have from some of the expert patients:
Alzheimer’s: Dealing with Disorientation: Using a "Reminder Board[4]
Depression: The First 48 Hours: Top 10 Depression Myths Debunked[5]
Breast Cancer: Coping with Chemotherapy - A Video[6]
Diabetes: Solving the Babysitter Dilemma [7]
First 48 Hours:
“First 48 Hours” is an area in most of the condition-specific sites lead by an expert patient, in hopes of helping consumers through their first steps to take once a diagnosis has been made. They explain what to expect, how they felt when they went through the same experience, and how to deal.
MyDiabetesCentral.com[8]provides the same service, with words of comfort from bloggers like David Mendosa, who assures readers that, “Type 2 diabetes is a lot to live with, but it is really manageable! ... In fact, if you take care of yourself, you will be healthier and happier than you ever were. That paradox is something many of us experience.”
