Analysis of Healthcare Websites

Internet/HealthSites

The Internet provides a wealth of resources users can access for information about health care delivery in the United States. Three such resources were recently examined. Their importance to health care workers and consumers was evaluated.

The Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) http://www.hanys.org/

The navigation bar at the top has a search box; below that are tabs for an A-Z index, communications, budget, federal reform, quality, advocacy, events, products, sponsorship, and employment. As a health care worker, it is important to have access to the latest information and this site provides that, organized according to topic so an individual can more quickly find the needed information. Health care workers may be particularly interested in the events and employment links. "Events" provides an extensive list of professional development opportunities across the state. The site can help workers keep abreast of current events and develop a network of other health care professionals.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services http://www.cms.gov/

Users of Medicare and Medicaid services can find a variety of resources, including important information about applications and coverage. There are links to special topics of interest and the capability to subscribe to a free e-newsletter with information updates. Users can also access lists of fee-for-service providers. The website can be a first stop for users of these government programs. The site provides information useful to end-users as well as to the health care professionals who provide federally-funded services. The navigation tools make it easy to find information. A particularly useful tab might be "Acronyms," which can help individuals navigate the often confusing language found in documents generated by federal agencies.

New York State Department of Health http://www.health.state.ny.us/