With all the headlines and news stories on this subject now, you might be wondering where you can go for authoritative and accurate information. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Medline Plus, and the World Health Organization may prove useful. At Medline Plus, they offer a “Go Local” search feature to find Swine Flu services and providers by state and county. The resources listed include clinics, doctors and libraries. The World Health Organization provides a swine flu faq. Health databases such as Health & Wellness Resource Center and Medline are available for searching from CADL (with a library card) and Mel.org. In addition, Mel.org offers a collection of Swine Flu resources including a link to the Michigan Department of Community Health.
Swine Flu Resources
April 28, 2009 at 6:22 pm (General)
Tags: Capital Area District Library, Consumer Health, Libraries, Michigan eLibrary, National Institutes of Medicine, Swine Flu
What is the doctor talking about?
April 3, 2009 at 3:21 pm (General)
Tags: Capital Area District Library, Consumer Health, Libraries, Michigan eLibrary, National Institutes of Medicine, Reference
If you’ve had any encounters with medical professionals over the past few years you may have noticed a shift in how 
the exchange of information is handled. The health care system used to be more paternalistic with the doctor laying out the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis all in one neat package. The system was doctor-centered and the patient’s role was one of trust and compliance. The doctor had the formal education and knowledge which the patient benefited from. Gradually though, a shift has occurred and our system is now patient-oriented where the patient is more of a partner in the diagnosis and treatment process. Patients are expected to ask questions, obtain information, consider options, discuss rather than just listen, and participate in decision-making. This is not to say that the doctor has been displaced as the knowledgeable and educated expert but rather to recognize that all patients now play an expanded role in their own health care.
In order to do this, both participants need to learn new skill sets - patients need to educate themselves about their condition, ask questions, keep notes; doctors need to engage patients, express empathy, listen. This shift in the relationship dynamics is recognized by the medical community and being addressed in training. For their part, patients need to know that they have many educational resources available to them via their local public library, medical libraries that are open to the public, subscription databases, and the internet.
In the mid-Michigan area the Capital Area District Library offers many books and magazines and databases. Sparrow Health Sciences Library is open to the public for finding quality medical information. Reliable internet sites like WebMd, National Library of Medicine, and Mayo Clinic, are also useful. So, if you find yourself in need of reliable medical information, don’t hesitate to utilize one or all of these resources to complement the information you receive from your doctor and other medical professionals.
Disclaimer: The above material is intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis and advice.
DST follow-up
March 12, 2009 at 3:49 pm (General)
Tags: Capital Area District Library, Consumer Health, Daylight Saving time, Michigan eLibrary
Just when you thought Daylight Saving Time (DST) was a mere inconvenience, here comes an article by New York Times science writer Anahad O’Connor that explains that it can affect your health causing restlessness, sleep disruption and shorter sleep duration. Here’s a link to the article and the scientific study involving 55,000 people that it cites. Also, FYI, a quick search of the Health & Wellness Resource Center database available through the Capital Area District Library or Michigan eLibrary online resources shows several other articles that discuss the health impact of DST.
Daylight Saving Time
March 6, 2009 at 10:03 am (General)
Tags: Capital Area District Library, Daylight Saving time, MelCat, Michigan eLibrary, Reference
Just a quick reminder that Daylight Saving Time (DST) goes into effect in much of the U.S. on Sunday, March 
8, at 2 a.m. local time. “Spring forward” by setting your clock ahead 1 hour.
DST was first established in the U.S. in 1918 and most recently modified in 2005 by the Energy Policy Act to take effect on the 2nd Sunday of March. Several reasons for DST have been cited over the years including energy conservation, fewer traffic accidents, and less violent crime.
For the U.S. and its territories, Daylight Saving Time is NOT observed in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and Arizona. The Navajo Nation participates in the Daylight Saving Time policy, even in Arizona, due to its large size and location in three states.
Information for this post obtained from WebExhibits. See their website for further interesting history, anecdotes, controversies, and a list of world countries that observe DST (or Summer Time, as they call it in the E.U.)
Useful information can also be found at time and date. com. The Capital Area District Library has 2 books on DST. Seize the daylight: the curious and contentious story of daylight saving time by David Prerau and Spring forward : the annual madness of daylight saving by Michael Downing. Copies can be found at the Dowtown Lansing, South Lansing and Haslett locations. Also, several other libraries throughout the state have books on DST – search MelCat, the statewide interloan system for other resources. Enjoy!
