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100 Web Resources for Medical Professionals

Published on Tuesday 18th 2007f September, 2007

If you are employed in the medical field or are currently studying medicine, then the Internet can be a valuable tool. From scientific research to professional networking, it often seems that you can be more productive online than you can in person. Doctors, nurses and others in the medical community are becoming reliant on convenient sites that offer useful information around the clock. The following 100 Web resources for medical professionals are not listed by importance, but rather alphabetized within their corresponding categories.

General Research | Dentistry | Nursing |Obstetrics & Gynecology | Oncology | Pediatrics | Psychiatry | Dictionaries & Journals | Directories | Job Leads | Social Networking | Blogs

General Research

The sites below encompass a variety of topics and will be of interest to medical professionals, medical students and others who wish to learn more about health. From the latest news in medicine to reliable information regarding diagnosis and therapy, the following sites cover it all.

  1. American Medical Association (AMA) — The official site of the AMA offers the latest medical news, as well as information on patient advocacy. The organization should be of interest to both physicians and medical students.
  2. British Medical Association (BMA) — This UK organization welcomes both licensed physicians and medical students from Britain and overseas. Their official Web site offers breaking news on medicine, as well as professional and educational resources for the medical community.
  3. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) — Healthcare providers will find the newest recommendations and guidelines from the CDC on this site. Where communicable diseases are concerned, physicians must stay abreast of the latest breakthroughs and research.
  4. Doctor's Guide — The newest developments in medicine are posted to Doctor's Guide, with topics ranging from acne to viral infections. You will also find a multilingual medical dictionary on this site.
  5. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — The official site of the FDA lists many regulations that medical professionals should be familiar with. Also, breaking news that concerns the FDA will be posted to this site.
  6. healthfinder.gov — Featuring health news, a weekly newsletter and a wellness guide, this site is invaluable to both professionals and consumers. A drug interaction guide is also a handy tool for those who are prescribing or taking medication.
  7. Health On the Net Foundation (HON) — HON offers a tool that searches hundreds of the most reliable medical sites for information. This site can be useful to anyone, not just medical professionals, and it is available in multiple languages.
  8. MDLinx — MDLinx keeps healthcare professionals and consumers current on the latest in medical research. Also, the site features a job bank and targeted advertisements that may be of interest to medical staff and students.
  9. Mayo Clinic — Mayo Clinic is one of the leading hospital systems in the United States, with multiple locations across the country. The official Mayo Clinic site offers reliable information for healthcare professionals and patients.
  10. Medical / Health Science Libraries on the Web — Compiled by the University of Iowa, this convenient list offers links to every major college library on the Web that focuses on medicine or health sciences.
  11. MedicineNet.com — Offering medical news, medical definitions and an online database of common illnesses and conditions, this site is a great catch. All refresher course for any medical professional. Students will find the site to be great reference material, also.
  12. MedlinePlus — From the National Library of Medicine, this massive site offers research material for both medical professionals and consumers. Video tutorials on this site are especially informative and entertaining.
  13. National Institutes of Health (NIH) — NIH is "The Nation's Medical Research Agency", making their official site a favorite amongst healthcare workers. Various grants can be researched here, including professional research grants and college grants.
  14. National Library of Medicine — Medical professionals should visit the official site of the NLM on a regular basis, as it offers the latest and most reliable news in medical research. Online medical journals, interactive tools and a library catalog are all available on this one informative site.
  15. Ovid — Ovid is a favored site amongst those in the medical and science industries. Offering the latest news and resources in medical research, the reliable information found here should be useful to students and professionals alike.
  16. WebMD — WebMD, though mainly frequented by consumers, can prove to be a quick reference tool for healthcare professionals and students.
  17. World Health Organization (WHO) — The official site of the WHO offers news and research material on global healthcare issues.

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Dentistry

Dentists have a large online presence. Not only do many dentists and dental clinics have their own Web sites, there are plenty of reliable online sources of dental news and information. The following sites are some of the most popular dental sites.

  1. American Dental Association (ADA) — The official site of the ADA includes specific areas for dental professionals and consumers, as well as exclusive content for ADA members.
  2. American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) — Dental professionals and students will find the latest news in dental hygiene on this site, as well as links to important dental health resources.
  3. Dental Hygiene News — As the name suggests, this site is devoted to dental hygiene news. Other areas of the site include dental humor pages and an online dental hygiene store.
  4. DentalNews.com — This aggregate site is updated constantly, keeping dental professionals and students abreast of the latest dental news. Dental News is also a print magazine and select articles are available for download on this site.
  5. E-Dental.com — This is an online market for dental professionals, though the site also offers the latest related headlines and a forum for dental workers to discuss health.
  6. WebDental — From dental supplies to dental schools, information on all things related to the industry can be found on this site. The self-proclaimed "World's Premier Dental Resource", WebDental should be of interest to everyone in the industry, including students.

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Nursing

Nurses are often taken for granted in the medical community, though it isn't for lack of hard work. Nurses and students in nursing school will find the following sites to be both informative and welcoming.

  1. allnurses.com — This site doubles as a forum and news service, offering information and online support to both professional nurses and students.
  2. American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) — The official site of the AANP offers the latest healthcare news, as well as information on legislation that affects nurse practitioners. Exclusive content is available for AANP members.
  3. American Nurses Association (ANA) — The ANA Web site offers valuable news and resources for nurses, as well as areas specific to certain disciplines. A "Members Only" area contains exclusive content and products.
  4. CyberNurse — CyberNurse is a site maintained by two nurses and offers countless online resources to those in the nursing profession. Nursing students will also find this site invaluable and the online store offers quality, related products.
  5. National League for Nursing (NLN) — The NLN focuses on improving nursing education and welcomes both professionals and students into the organization. This site offers many resources for those in the nursing industry.
  6. Nurse.com — Nurse.com is a large, informative site on all things related to the nursing industry. From the latest medical headlines to education resources, all nursing professionals and students should frequent this site.
  7. Nurses.com — This online market for nursing supplies also offers a message board and job bank. An RSS feed containing the latest medical headlines is also featured on the homepage, making this a versatile resource for nursing professionals and students.

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Obstetrics & Gynecology

Obstetrics and gynecology cover many topics and there are plenty of sites dedicated to women's health. The following sites are most useful to women's health professionals, rather than just patients.

  1. Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO) — A non-profit organization, the APGO is dedicated to improving women's healthcare. Those who wish to join will find an online application here, as well as more information on the organization's activities.
  2. Contemporary OB/GYN — This is the official site of a monthly magazine of the same name. Key articles and resources can be found on this site, as well as the ability to subscribe to this cutting-edge publication.
  3. International Breast Cancer Research Foundation (IBCRF) — This global foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer and is conducting research that should be of interest to OB/GYNs, as well as medical students.
  4. The National Women's Health Information Center — This government-sponsored site on women's health contains resources for OB/GYNs, medical students and consumers. Information regarding research funding can be found through this site, as well.
  5. OBGYN.net — The leading resources for those involved in the women's healthcare industry can be found here. From news articles to educational tutorials, this site offers a lot of information.
  6. Perinatology.com — News and information on perinatology should be of interest to both OB/GYNs and medical students. From clinical trials to the latest headlines, the leading resources can be found here.

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Oncology

Cancer patients have countless sites devoted to them, but the sites below are mainly intended to assist professionals in the field of oncology.

  1. American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) — From online abstracts to news regarding medical legislation, all the latest information about oncology can be found on this site.
  2. CancerNetwork — CancerNetwork offers the latest news in cancer research, as well as countless resources for oncology professionals and students.
  3. National Cancer Institute (NCI) — This government institution is a leader in cancer research. The informative Web site offers news and publications on cancer research, as well as funding for oncologists and students.
  4. OncoLink — Created by the Abramson Cancer Center, this site offers information and support to medical professionals, students and cancer patients. This is one of the largest sites focused on oncology and is updated daily.

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Pediatrics

With so many online resources available on children's health, it is hard to choose the "top" sites. However, pediatricians and pediatric nurses will find the sites below to be most useful to them.

  1. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) — The official site of the AAP offers reliable information and resources about pediatrics. There are areas devoted specifically to parents or professionals and members gain access to exclusive content.
  2. American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) — The official site of this certifying board offers resources for those trying to become certified, as well as practicing pediatricians.
  3. DrGreene.com — Dr. Greene is one of the most famous pediatricians in the world and was the first physician to start his own medical Web site. Healthcare professionals and students may benefit from Dr. Greene's advice, just as parents and caregivers have for years.
  4. GeneralPediatrics.com — For healthcare providers and students who are curious about how the medical community feels about certain pediatric problems, this site may have the answers.

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Psychiatry

From the latest research findings on mental health to online reference materials, the sites below will be useful to those working in the field of psychiatry.

  1. American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) — The official site of the AACAP offers the latest news on child and adolescent psychiatry, as well as information on related legislation. Those wishing to join the academy can find out how to do so on this Web site.
  2. American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) — The ABPN is a reputable certifying board that promotes excellence in the psychiatric industry. Their official site contains information on the latest in psychiatric research, as well as how to become certified.
  3. American Psychiatric Association (APA) — Physicians can join the reputable APA through this site, as well as pay dues and catch up on the latest psychiatric research.
  4. PsychNet - UK — This British site offers many resources to both medical professionals and consumers. Student lecture material can be found here, as well as leads on various mental health jobs around the UK.
  5. PsychiatrySource.com — Featuring the latest industry news and treatment guidelines, this site is a one-stop source of pertinent psychiatric information.

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Dictionaries & Journals

There are countless medical journals currently in publication, as well as many online glossaries and dictionaries. The following sites feature the most popular and/or extensive medical dictionaries and journals.

  1. American Family Physician — This online journal is an exhaustive source of information about general practice, including the latest research and treatment standards.
  2. American Medical News — This online publication offers academic essays and news articles that are free for 90 days. Paid members will have full access to the site's archives, however.
  3. Free Medical Journals — As the name suggests, this site features free medical journals. There are currently over 400 journals on this site, most of them available in several different languages.
  4. Glossary of Immunology — This handy online glossary features hundreds of medical terms. Using one's Web browser "Find" command will help find specific words on the list.
  5. Health Affairs — Health Affairs focuses on medical policies. Although this journal is only available for a fee, select articles are posted online for no charge.
  6. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association — The AMA produces JAMA, one of the most popular medical journals in publication. Subscriptions are available through this site, though certain articles can be read online for free.
  7. MedTerms Medical Dictionary — MedTerms is a popular resource for both healthcare professionals and students, as it offers definitions to over 16,000 medical terms.
  8. The Merck Manuals — Merck produces some of the most exhaustive and reliable books about diagnosis and therapy. Many physicians have The Merck Manuals saved on their handheld devices, should they need to consult one of the site's online texts at work.
  9. The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) — The NEJM is one of the most respected medical journals in publication. Key articles are available for free on this official site, as well as paid subscriptions to the full journal.
  10. PubMed — This online database of MEDLINE records is available to registered physicians and is considered one of the most reliable online sources of medical information.

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Directories

The following online directories will assist both healthcare professionals and consumers with finding physicians, clinics and hospitals. Searches can be narrowed with certain specific fields, such as location, field of study, board certification or accepted insurances.

  1. AMA DoctorFinder — Those looking for physicians who are recommended by the AMA can find them with this simple search tool.
  2. American Hospital Directory — This hospital directory features major hospitals and clinics, in addition to detailed profiles of each result.
  3. DocFinder — DocFinder was the first search tool of its kind and is still one of the best. Free of charge, one can search for doctors from a combined source of databases, including state licensing boards.
  4. DoctorDirectory.com — This online directory, which was created in 1996, can locate doctors according to specialty and location. Also, one can search for hospitals with this tool.
  5. The Health Insurance Directory — This simple directory lists all major health insurances in the United States and connects users with the insurances' Web sites.
  6. Hospital Directory — Featured on U.S. News & World Report's Web site, this hospital directory can help professionals and patients find specifically what they need. This is both a reliable and user-friendly tool.
  7. WebMD Physician Directory — Already a useful site, WebMD features one of the most exhaustive search tools for locating a physician. Search criteria can get very specific with this directory, though it is quite easy to use.
  8. Worldwide Hospitals Search — Not everyone needs to find a hospital in the United States, which is why this tool comes in so handy for many professionals. Featuring hospitals in over 60 countries, there are more than 12,000 current entries in this directory.

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Job Leads

Finishing a degree or certificate in healthcare may seem like hard work, but finding a desirable position is another feat that takes dedication. The sites below will assist those looking for a job in the medical industry, including doctors, nurses and administrators.

  1. Candidate Direct — Candidate Direct is the most popular travel nurse agency on the Web. This company helps travel nurses find positions that suit them and the site's services are available 24 hours a day.
  2. CareerBuilder.com — This is a popular classified ad site for jobs, though it isn't exclusive to medical professionals. However, its popularity may garner plenty of results for those seeking a career in the medical field.
  3. Employment for Physicians — Like the title suggests, this site assists physicians who are looking for a new position. Doctors can search listings and post resumes on this site.
  4. HealthCare Job Bank — Organized by state and occupation, there are many employers who post open positions on this site. These jobs encompass all health-related careers.
  5. HospitalJobsLocator.com — Those looking to work in a hospital may find a position through this site. From doctors to administrators, all positions within a hospital are included.
  6. MEDJobScout — This simple search tool will help one to narrow his/her job search by location, profession and/or specialty.
  7. Monster — The largest job site on the Internet, Monster features many open positions for medical professionals. One can also post his/her resume to this site, often garnering a large response.
  8. Nurse Emp — Though the site's name suggests it is only for those seeking a job in nursing, employers will also post positions for other allied healthcare professionals. This is a popular resource for nurses and medical assistants.

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Social Networking

Online social networking can included Internet dating, meeting friends with similar interests and making professional connections that help one's career. Today, almost everyone uses some form of social networking tool. The following sites are popular amongst healthcare professionals.

  1. DocsBoard.com — Physicians who share advice and anecdotes and who make friends within their field of study primarily use this large system of message boards.
  2. DoctorNetworking.com — This site is a place to network with other physicians. Private, free and anonymous, doctors can share stories and advice without infringing upon anyone's privacy.
  3. iMedExchange — One of the newest and most popular networking sites for physicians, iMedExchange is a very polished online hangout for doctors. Their online tutorial should entice most doctors to join.
  4. LinkedIn — LinkedIn is a way to share your trusted contacts with others, thus creating a large group for you to network with. Unlike other social networking sites with a similar structure, LinkedIn is for professional networking only.
  5. Medical Passions — This is one of the few online dating sites that is specifically dedicated to those within the medical industry. It is a great way to meet people with similar goals and interests (not to mention, erratic schedules).
  6. MomMD — This popular online community is for women in the medical industry who want to meet friends and make business contacts. It is an empowering and welcoming community for female healthcare providers.
  7. Nurse's Cafe — Nurse's Cafe is a place for nurses to discuss healthcare amongst colleagues or just meet other nurses who have similar interests and life experiences.
  8. Nurse Linkup — A new community, Nurse Linkup offers forums, chat rooms, blogs and more to nurses who want to mingle online with colleagues.
  9. Professional Nurse Network — Offering message boards, blogs and more, this site encourages nurses to start an online profile and meet other nurses.
  10. Sermo — Sermo is the reigning champ among social networking sites for licensed doctors. It is considered a classy, intellectual environment for physicians to meet colleagues and make new friends.
  11. Tiromed — Tiromed, another young site, enables both medical professionals and students to meet and greet. Mentoring is encouraged through this site, which can enrich a healthcare provider's career and life.

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Blogs

  1. about a nurse — This popular blog is written by May, an RN from California. Her musings about life in a medical-surgical ward has attracted many fans.
  2. Addicted to Medblogs — This blog is written by someone who is a self-admitted medical blog addict. Here, roles are reversed and doctors often visit the site to leave comments.
  3. code blog: tales of a nurse — Another popular nursing blog, code blog also posts stories that have been submitted by various healthcare professionals. It is an anonymous peek into a fascinating industry.
  4. A Day In the Life of An Ambulance Driver — Driving an ambulance is never boring and neither is this blog. Popular for good reason, this author describes the ups and downs of emergency situations he has to endure every day.
  5. Doctor Anonymous — This is a humorous blog written anonymously by a doctor. It covers medicine in relation to politics, life and beyond. Doctor Anonymous also has an online radio show, broadcast from this blog.
  6. Emergiblog — This is one of the most popular medical blogs on the Web, expertly written by an ER nurse. There is never a dull moment in this nurse's life.
  7. Family Medicine Notes — One of the longest-running medical blogs on the Internet, Family Medicine Notes has been maintained by a family physician since 1999.
  8. FAST FOOD Pharmacy — This is an amusing, sometime poignant blog written by a pharmacist. As indicated by the blog's name, pharmacies are often observed as being like fast food drive-thrus.
  9. GruntDoc — A former marine, this emergency doctor has many wild tales to tell from his home in Texas.
  10. In the Pipeline — For more academic fare, this PhD maintains a very popular blog on Corante.
  11. Kevin, M.D. — Kevin, M.D. is probably the most popular medical blog in the Internet. Written by primary care physician Dr. Kevin Pho and offers one doctor's opinion on the medical industry.
  12. NHS Blog Doctor — This is a very popular blog written by a physician in the UK. His scathing look at problems within the British healthcare industry has many loyal readers.
  13. Medpundit — Medpundit is another blog written by a doctor that provides an insider's view on the state of the medical industry.
  14. The NJO Blog — This is a shared blog between several nurses, discussing the intricacies of nursing life.

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