Searching for health information is now a major reason why people visit the World Wide Web, according to a recent study. But there is quite a bit of misinformation on the Web— and too many commercials. Now, UMDNJ’s University Libraries has developed an accurate, advertising-free Web site as a dedicated source of health information for consumers. It’s called HealthyNJ.

A Consumer Health Information Task Force, comprised of librarians from each of the four UMDNJ campus libraries, developed the content of the site to meet the needs of consumers. It is divided into four sections: Health and Wellness, Diseases and Conditions, Health in NJ, and the Reference Desk.

The first two sections contain patient education information on a variety of subjects, as well as a selected group of recommended Web sites. Consumers can perform searches of medical journal literature on MEDLINE or sign up for a discussion group or chat room. The Health in NJ section contains a collection of health-related Web sites specific to the state, including state and county level health resources. Browsers can find information related to Garden State health insurance topics, or locate links to hospitals and other health care facilities in every county in the state. Statistical information on representative New Jersey health concerns is also included.

The Reference Desk includes Web directories with information about hospitals and physicians, a comprehensive collection of drug information sites, links to electronic images that can be viewed or downloaded, and more.

Major sponsors of HealthyNJ include the New Jersey State Library, the New Jersey Library Association and Verizon Communications.

Check it out!