Nov. 20 Episode of "ER" is Real-life Drama for Today's Medical Librarians

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Julie Mulzoff
Public Communications Inc.
312/558-1770

NOV. 20 EPISODE OF "ER" IS REAL-LIFE DRAMA FOR TODAY'S MEDICAL LIBRARIANS

CHICAGO, Nov. 19, 1997 -- Doctors on NBC Television's hit medical drama ER solve a mysterious diagnosis using an Internet search on the Nov. 20 episode. But using the Internet to research health topics and diseases isn't just a story line on a television show. In fact, one out of three Internet users are seeking health and medical information online.

With more than 10,000 health-related websites to choose from, consumers can easily become overwhelmed. It may be difficult for the average person to determine if the information they receive is provided by a reputable source.

Medical librarians, a resource once available only to health care professionals, are increasingly accessible to anyone who needs help finding or evaluating medical information. For Internet users, medical librarians have created HealthWeb (http:\HealthWeb.org) an interface that directs users to evaluated non-commercial, health-related websites. HealthWeb is a cooperative project and is maintained by 20 medical institution-based libraries including Mayo Clinic and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Medical libraries across the country are encouraging people to visit in person or by phone, fax or e-mail. "We believe a more informed patient is a better patient," said Rachael K. Anderson, Medical Library Association (MLA) president, "and medical librarians can point people to the best Internet sites, help them narrow down their reading choices, or explain complicated information in easy-to-understand terms so they can be the best consumers of health care for themselves and for those they love," said Anderson.

Medical librarians can be an excellent resource for your readers. We can arrange an interview with MLA president Rachael Anderson, direct you to a medical librarian in your area or provide you with real-life examples of how medical librarians make a difference in patients and physicians' lives everyday.

For more information, contact Julie Mulzoff at (312)558-1770 or at [email protected]

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