FLORIDA PHYSICIANS TO WRITE PRESCRIPTIONS FOR PATIENT
    INFORMATION

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

NIH News

National Library of Medicine (NLM)
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 10, 2005

CONTACTS:
Robert Mehnert [log in to unmask]
Kathy Cravedi
301-496-6308

FLORIDA PHYSICIANS TO WRITE PRESCRIPTIONS FOR PATIENT INFORMATION

Florida Congressman C.W. Bill Young
Joins National Library of Medicine,
American Medical Association Foundation,
and Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation
to Launch Health Information Program for Physicians, their Patients, and
Caregivers

DUNEDIN, FLORIDA -- After a doctor sees a patient, he or she often
prescribes medications. But what if a doctor also wants to direct a patient
to up-to-date, reliable, consumer-friendly information about a health
concern? Under a pilot program to be launched in Florida on Feb. 14,
physicians from six counties are being encouraged to refer their patients to
MedlinePlus, a consumer health site of the National Institutes of Health.

The American Medical Association Foundation (AMAF) and the Fisher Center for
Alzheimer's Research Foundation have teamed up with the National Library of
Medicine (NLM), an arm of the National Institutes of Health, to encourage
Florida physicians to point patients to first-rate online health information
in NLM's MedlinePlus database (www.medlineplus.gov), and Fisher Center
Foundation's Web site (www.alzinfo.org). The pilot program, called the
"Information Rx" project, will be launched in six Florida counties with a
demonstration hosted by Rep. C. W. Bill Young (R-FL).

"Part of a physician's job is to explain illnesses, diagnoses, and treatment
to their patients," said Cecil Wilson, M.D., member of the American Medical
Association Board of Trustees. "NLM's MedlinePlus provides authoritative,
user-friendly, and commercial-free information that doctors can use to
supplement information provided in the office or clinic."

The kickoff will take place in Dunedin, Florida at 10:30 a.m., Feb. 14, at
the William Hale Senior Activity Center, 330 Douglas Avenue. This event will
feature remarks by:

  -- The Honorable C.W. Bill Young, Congressman, (R-FL)
  -- The Honorable John Doglione, Mayor, City of Dunedin
  -- Bentley Lipscomb, Florida State Director of the AARP
  -- Cecil Wilson, M.D., American Medical Association Board of Trustees,
Chicago, IL
  -- William Netzer, Ph.D., Researcher, Fisher Center for Alzheimer's
Disease, Rockefeller University, NY
  -- Ms. Mary Asta, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the
Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, NY
  -- Dennis Agliano, M.D., President, Florida Medical Association
  -- Marcos Joppert, M.D., President of the Pinellas Medical Society
  -- Donald A.B. Lindberg, M.D., Director, NLM
  -- Florida residents and Alzheimer's caregivers

In addition, Dennis Agliano, M.D., will write the first information
prescription for Dunedin Representative C.W. Bill Young. Dr. Agliano will
also be on hand after the program to write information prescriptions for
members of the press. Refreshments will be served at the program's
conclusion.

Why do the NLM, the Fisher Center Foundation, and the AMA Foundation
consider this project so important?

"Physicians have always known that an informed patient who takes an active
role is a 'better' patient," notes NLM Director Lindberg. "We believe that
both patients and their doctors will welcome this additional medical tool--
good medical information -- in their continuing efforts to provide good
health care."

With contents culled from the best public and private health sites on the
Internet, MedlinePlus has information on more than 700 health topics. Under
each, patients will find information on symptoms, diagnosis and treatment,
current news stories, research studies, clinical trials, helpful graphics
and even video tutorials. There are detailed but easy-to-read information on
thousands of over-the-counter and prescription drugs, too. MedlinePlus is
also available in Spanish.

As more people are living longer, the number of patients diagnosed with
Alzheimer's disease is increasing steadily and the pace will quicken as the
baby boomer generation ages. This is why NLM and the Fisher Center
Foundation have joined forces to encourage doctors to steer their patients
to MedlinePlus.gov and AlzInfo.org.

"It is so important for caregivers and loved ones of Alzheimer's patients to
understand the disease and where they can go for help. Alzinfo.org and
MedlinePlus.gov help those taking this difficult journey. Alzheimer's care
can be overwhelming at times, and too often patients and family members
leave the doctor's office with unanswered questions. The 'Information Rx"
initiative seeks to close the information gap, providing comprehensive
information resources to those who need it," said Mary Asta, Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research
Foundation.

Today, the majority of U.S. adults online -- 80 percent -- use the Net to
find health information. Most users say it helps them obtain better health
care, a study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project reports. Nearly
70 percent of patients nationwide add they will pay serious attention to a
Web site recommended by their physician.

The Information Rx Project is already well received by doctors and their
patients. Preliminary findings from ongoing pilot projects with Internists
in Iowa, Georgia, and Virginia reveal that 97 percent of participating
physicians make referrals to MedlinePlus and the overwhelming majority use
it daily. Internists who participated in the pilot programs said MedlinePlus
empowers patients (54 percent), explains difficult concepts and procedures
(43 percent), and improves patient-physician communication (42 percent).

"Used properly, the Internet can be another important healthcare tool just
like the biopsy, the x-ray, and the electrocardiogram," observed Congressman
C.W. Bill Young, a long-time advocate for Alzheimer's research and
education. "That is why I hope that our Florida doctors will take the lead
in making use of the 'Health Information Prescription' program, directing
Floridians eager for good consumer health information to the gold standard,
MedlinePlus. I think they'll find that, used in conjunction with their
doctor's good care, information can be powerful medicine."

Overall, the program aims to significantly improve health literacy and
patient education by combining high quality sources of consumer health and
Alzheimer's disease information with the interpersonal intervention and
encouragement of a trusted medical provider. After testing of this pilot
program, a greatly expanded national initiative is expected to follow.

The National Library of Medicine, the world's largest medical library, is a
component of the National Institutes of Health, an agency of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services.

##

This NIH News Release is available online at:
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/feb2005/nlm-10.htm.





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