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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2002

Finding Alaska Native and American Indian resources online is a little bit easier thanks to a new web site dedicated to Indian health issues.

Boasting hundreds of links in more than 100 health topics, the Department of Health and Human Serviced launched the site yesterday in conjunction with Native American Heritage Month. Bush administration officials said the new healthfinder® section will provide up-to-date information on health challenges facing Indian Country.

"American Indians and Alaska Natives are affected disproportionately by diabetes, tuberculosis, injuries, and other serious health problems," Secretary Tommy Thompson said. "By providing resources especially selected for these populations, with their input, we have designed a gateway to help them learn about preventing and treating illness and developing a healthy lifestyle."

From AIDS to traditional healing, the web site contains an organized directory of links. Users can browse by topic of search the available resources.

There are an average of 10 entries in each of the 170 categories on the healthfinder® site. With with 29 links, the elder care category appears to have the most.

Independent web sites, federal government fact sheets and health reports are the three major types of resources. Many, but not all, are Native-specific.

There is no clear way for users to submit additions to healthfinder®. But the site includes an e-mail link to provide feedback.

Dr. Charles Grim, interim director of the Indian Health Service, said health care providers, health leaders and Native Americans can benefit from the site. "Our families with Internet access in these communities can also benefit from the useful information it provides. Access to information is an invaluable tool for disease prevention and treatment as well as wellness," he said.

First launched in 1997, healthfinder® is designed to be a one-stop information site. It features sections on minority communities, men's and women's health and other groups.

The site is supported by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, an HHS office dedicated to disease prevention and health promotion. During the month of September, the office met with tribal leaders, patients and students throughout Indian Country in hopes of better serving Native communities.

Results of the effort are available in a draft report that found that most have never used the healthfinder® site. But a large percentage of those surveyed said they use the Internet to find and disseminate health information.

When shown healthfinder®, users said they wanted timely information on an easy-to-use site. They also wanted an easy way to search the entire site for Native-only information. Based on comments contained in the draft, the office has already implemented some of the suggestions.

Relevant Documents:
Understanding our users: how to better deliver online health information to American Indians and Alaska Natives (November 2002)

Relevant Links:
healthfinder®, Just for You - http://www.healthfinder.gov/justforyou

Related Stories:
Reports address long-term elder care (08/20)
Elder care study shows worsening problems (7/11)
Senate holds elder health care hearing (7/10)
Report stresses importance of health insurance (5/22)
Poor Indian health blamed on federal failures (3/21)
IHS pressed to include tribes in reform (2/28)