by Marty Magee
Looking for a new “recipe” for programming on health resources? All it really requires is a meeting room, a computer with an Internet connection, a projector and a speaker and some people to participate. These resources are all free!
First: choose a focus
General knowledge on MedlinePlus and evaluating health information- An audience: such as Seniors – try NIH Senior Health
- An audience: such as parents of home schooled children – Look at K-12 Resources
- A disease or medical issue. Need a special focus for a particular month? Check out the calendar of National Health Observances from the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. You can print out a whole calendar year of noted observances. Along with the calendar are related ideas for promotion and sample announcements. What could be easier?
Next – pick some resources – and keep it brief
- A MedlinePlus Tour – about 8 minutes long – in English : www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tour/tour.html OR Spanish: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tour/tour.html
- Evaluating Internet Health Information: A Tutorial from the National Library of Medicine – 16 minutes: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/webeval/webeval.html
Understanding Medical Words: A Tutorial from the National Library of Medicine. Try as a group exercise pronouncing words together! www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/medicalwords- Show an Interactive Health Tutorial – Pick one that applies to large audience, i.e. Hearing Loss: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorial.html
- If you’re feeling, a little more brave, try watching a surgery video – i.e. Knee Injury – ACL Repair: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/surgeryvideos.html
- Share a webinar. The National Network/Libraries of Medicine MidContinental Region shows webinars each month on different databases from the National Library of Medicine. Some of the good consumer health topics include: Healthy Pets/Healthy People or Resources for K-12 Teachers and Librarians: nnlm.gov/mcr/services/updates/spotlightresources.html
Optional : add in a speaker
- Check out: Health Hotlines – Toll-Free Numbers from the National Library of Medicine: healthhotlines.nlm.nih.gov. Further inquiry could lead you to a local resource for the many not-for-profit associations.
- Contact your local hospital, perhaps a nurse educator, to add to the program. Collaborate!
Shake well
Ask questions of your audience – and encourage them to do the same. And if you need more ideas, you can always contact the National Network/Libraries of Medicine, MidContinental Region – 1-800-338-7657.
Marty Magee was formerly with the National Network/Libraries of Medicine MidContinental Region.