The Government Information Department home page provides links to selected
resources by subject. The department's Data Center offers researchers computers
available for web searching as well as access to a number of subscription and
CD-ROM databases.
Introduction and Basic Starting Points
- Health and medical information is produced by a number of different agencies, including Congress and the Office of the President, as well as Health and Human Services. Starting a search for health or medical information is quite basic though, and begins with both print and online sources.
- Monthly Catalog
- http:www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/dpos/adpos400.html
- Docs Ref GP 3.8: year
- The Monthly Catalog of US Government Publications is a bibliography and index to all documents published each year by government departments and agencies. Access is provided by author, subject, title, keyword and report number.
- Congressional Information Service (CIS)
- http://www.cispubs.com
- Reference KF 49 .C62
The CIS provides information about Congressional hearings and committee reports, as well as public and private laws. This service covers 1970-.
- American Statistics Index (ASI)
- Docs Ref Z 7754 .U5 A46
- The ASI is the index to statistics published by the federal government by subject, author, and category. Its coverage includes national, regional, state, county and city statistics.
Index Medicus
- BioSci Reference (Kendall Hall)
- Published by the National Library of Medicine, this is the primary access point to the medical literature. MEDLINE, the online computer file published by the National Library of Medicine, is also available to UNH users. Subjects include information on diseases and disorders, anatomy and physiology, etiology, therapy, and biomedical technology.
Statistical Abstract of the United States
-
http://www.census.gov/statab/www/
- C 3.134/7:year
- Published by the US Department of Commerce, this general statistical source offers sections on vital statistics, health and nutrition, and human services.
Public Health Reports (1908-)
- Docs HE 20.30 (previously classed HE 20.6011)
- This source provides research articles from the US Department of Health and Human Services. Topics range from health care and health services to disease prevention and public health issues.
Statistical Sources
- There are a number of statistical sources available both in print and online. A few which area more directly related to health and medical information are provided below.
Vital Statistics of the United States
- Docs Ref HE 20.6210:
- Vital Statistics is an annual publication covering areas of natality, mortality, morbidity, and disease. NOTE: There is a significant delay in its publications.
US Injury Mortality Statistics
- http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/osp/mortdata.htm
- This site provides a listing of injuries and related statistics based on year of survey.
Vital and Health Statistics
- Docs HE 20.6209
- This is an irregular serial published by the National Center for Health Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control which addresses issues and provides survey results on national health care matters.
Health, United States (1998)
- Docs Ref He 20.7042/6: year
- Submitted annually by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the President and congress, these reports are compiled from data collected from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States provides information on national trends in health statistics through narratives and tables/charts.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
- http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/mmwr.html
- Docs HE 20.7039/3:
- This resource provides a weekly report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based on data submitted by state departments of health. Data are available on both state and national levels.
Atlas of United States Mortality
- http://www.cdc.gov/nchswww/products/pubs/pubd/other/atlas/atlas.htm
- Doc HE 20.6202: At 6
- This atlas offers maps of the geographic patterns of disease. It has maps of the leading causes of death in the US from 1988-1992.
Trends in the Well-Being of America's Children and Youth
- Docs Ref he 1.63:year
- Produced from an annual report given by the Department of Health and Human Services, this series offers estimates for 90 indicators of well-being for the purpose of describing health conditions of US children.
Mental Health, United States (1996)
- Doc HE 20.8137:year
- This report provides statistical summaries on topics relating to health care reform. Health policy discussions, mental health epidemiological data for adults and children, information on federal mental health programs, an data on services and service providers are all offered in this volume.
Commonly Visited Federal Government Health Agencies' Web Sites
- Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
- http://www.acf.dhhs.gov
- Administration on Aging (AOA)
- http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov
- Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR)
- http://www.ahcpr.gov
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- http://www.cdc.gov
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- http://www.fda.gov
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
- http://www.hrsa.gov>
- This agency provides state profiles illustrating demographic data, offering indicators and resources, and information on rates of infectious diseases, deaths, and so forth.
- http://www.os.dhhs.gov/
- The US Department of Health and Human Services is the central clearing house for all federal health and human services data. Agencies comprising the Department are all linked to this site through http://www.uncle-sam.com/hhs.html.
National Center for Health Statistics
- http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/
- NCHS is the principal federal organization responsible for collection and analysis of health statistics. FEDSTATS, a combined statistical site, is available from this page as well as information produced by a number of other US government agencies.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- http://www.nih.gov
- This site offers links to a number of health information sources: CancerNet, AIDS information, Clinical Alerts, Women's Health Initiative, and the NIH Information Index a guide to diseases.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- http://www.samhsa.gov/
Combined Health Information Database
- http://chid.nih.gov/
- This database was produced by the health-related agencies of the federal government and provides titles, abstracts and information on health and health education resources.
Non-government Sources
- Professional Guide to Signs & Symbols
- RC69 .P77 1977
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine
- http://www.harrisonsonline.com/
- RC46 .H333 1994
- Harrison's is a leading medical textbook published by McGraw-Hill. The online site offers an updated (current year's) searchable medical database.
- Encyclopedia of Bioethics
- Reference QH 332 .E52 1995 (5 volumes)
- Encyclopedia of Associations
-
http://galenet.gale.com/m/mcp/prodlist
- Reference HS17 .G32
- The Encyclopedia of Associations is the premiere source for information on associations and professional organizations, including information on health care services. The more current editions include listings for nonprofit organizations and so is the world's largest and most detailed and searchable database on nonprofit information.
Wellness Web
- http://www.wellweb.com
- This site is a collaborative effort of patients, healthcare professionals, and other care givers developed to help users find medical and support information. It includes information on clinical trials, community health, drug dosages and compliance, treatment options, and reports on illnesses and conditions.
- Consumer Health Information Source Book
- Reference RA776 .R4 1998
- National Health Directory
- Reference RA 7.5 .N37 1992
- This source is a companion to the federal publication, Directory of Federal Health/Medicine Grants and Contracts.