| Health social networks are not extremely | | | | found is a forum based interaction site to gain |
| numerous, but are very helpful for those seeking | | | | knowledge of side effects, get answers to your |
| to gain knowledge that their doctor may not be | | | | testing questions, treatment choices, and research |
| able to offer. Either time constraints or even lack | | | | information related specifically to breast cancer |
| of the newest information sometimes prevents | | | | issues. BreastCancer.org comes complete with |
| your doctor from being able to fill you in on the | | | | support and community connections. |
| details. | | | | WebMD is probably the most well known social |
| Checking out a health social network in the waiting | | | | type health network for not only finding and |
| period of a test or just to find out more is such a | | | | connecting with other people like you, but for the |
| blessing in this age of the Internet. Searching for | | | | wealth of health related information at their |
| specifics is often difficult. The time taken while | | | | fingertips. From blogs to message boards to being |
| sorting through the masses of results given when | | | | able to ask the experts, this health stockpile has it |
| trying to locate helpful sites on, for instance, | | | | all covered. Discover links to other health issue |
| cancer, can be overwhelming. Going to a | | | | sites, meet a multitude of individuals from all over |
| interactive social networking site focused health | | | | the Internet, and get a peace of mind that only |
| and wellness issues generally will gain far greater | | | | detailed knowledge can bring. WebMD has headline |
| and more case specific search results. | | | | news, polls, a pill identifier, locate a doctor or |
| While doing searches for these health related | | | | hospital in your area, or browse through the |
| social networks, I noticed that they were actually | | | | health centers topic list to find the answers you |
| few and far between with most being forum | | | | are looking for. |
| style set ups. These are useful as they allow | | | | Google Health, while not exactly a health social |
| interaction, but are also a bit limited and | | | | network is an outstanding resource for |
| sometimes difficult to sort through a 1000 plus | | | | communicating your total health information to |
| thread post topic. Which member of the forum | | | | your newest doctor or at an emergency room |
| posted the best information and will we then need | | | | visit to keep the physician aware of what |
| to read through all 1000 plus posts to find our | | | | treatments you are getting or have received in |
| answer? | | | | the past. This awareness is paramount especially |
| There were only a few health social networks | | | | if you are taking medication. Google Health allows |
| that really stood out. One being Trusera. A recent | | | | it's users to input securely their medical |
| event has left them in need of partners, but they | | | | information from every individual hospital, doctor, |
| will be alive and well until at least late April, 2009. | | | | or medical center, keeping all in one place to |
| Trusera is a true health related, topic oriented, | | | | ensure the whole of it all gets to the eyes of |
| information filled social network. Interacting with | | | | each health care provider you encounter. A |
| like members who are either going through or | | | | system like this absolutely will stop medication |
| have been where others are now in their health | | | | conflicts if filled in correctly and could head off |
| challenges. Remaining anonymous is easy or you | | | | problems before they can begin. Google Health |
| can choose to be as open as you wish while | | | | puts you in charge of your health information |
| connecting in a social setting to find answers to | | | | safely, securely, and best of all it is free. |
| your health questions or to offer up a health | | | | Locating other health social networks, forums, and |
| related experience of your own. Getting practical | | | | information is easy when you know which search |
| answers and insight from others just like yourself | | | | engine to use. Google has topic specific search |
| during stressful times is calming. | | | | engines as a starting point, but I found MedStory. |
| The power of having been there is incredible to | | | | A health information search engine currently in |
| someone who is currently "going through" a health | | | | Beta testing. If you need more avenues than |
| related situation. The site for breast cancer that I | | | | mentioned here, check into MedStory for more. |