Health Communities Thrive Online July 22nd, 2009
Regina Hopper

From connecting patients in remote locations with the world’s best physicians to revolutionizing medical records to improve care and save lives, broadband is playing a pivotal role in modern health care advances.  And, as we reported recently, an unprecedented number of consumers are tapping into online resources to gain greater health care knowledge.  But where do “e-patients” go online to connect with supportive communities that share their hopes and concerns?

Thanks to the power of the Internet, health forums and support groups abound, and are making a tremendous difference in patients’ lives.  For example, myeloma.org not only features a video of a Mayo Clinic physician explaining the origin and nature of this blood disease, the website also offers tools to track patients’ lab results over time, as well as provides treatment information tailored to individual diagnoses.  In addition to patient services and disease information, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (lls.org) features “Life Mosaics” highlighting stories that underscore the hope and courage of individual patients.  And, the Lance Armstrong Foundation website, livestrong.org, offers one-on-one support, information on cutting-edge clinical trials, and an array of tools that provide a wealth of insight and information.

Looking for an online support network, but not sure where to begin?  Sites such as WebMD.com, Dailystrength.org, and MDJunction.com can connect you to hundreds of support groups based on specific health issues or life challenges.  Whether you’re researching online for a family member or friend, or need a personal health connection for yourself, broadband is there to bring an impressive variety of options to enhance your knowledge and well-being.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009 at 10:08 am and is filed under Benefits of Broadband. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.