This is a very important point and supports the benefit of free, easily
accessible internet service.  Libraries are filling this void very well.  I
also feel that community health services should be given the support to do
this as well.  Currently, many managers assume that providing internet
access to staff will result in their playing on the computer rather than
using it for searches such as the one described below.  We still have work
to do in increasing access to health care practitioners and members of the
public.

Alberta Health has recently funded Health In Action to carry out an
environmental scan of the province's Regional Health Authorities (RHAs).
The goal of this process is to identify who has internet access, who should
have it (I vote everyone) and what needs to be done (changing attitudes or
budgets) to increase access by staff and voluteers.  The results  of the
scan will be known in September.  The process will also be available if
others wish to carry out a similar studies in other regions.

Susan MacMillan


>Hello,
>I am not part of the Health Community  (other then as a consumer)
>but years ago I studied nutrition because I had to change the way I
>was eating or I could not go on.
>I am now a Facility Manager for this Internet Service Provider and
>became interested in the Internet as a tool for just the kind of services
>that this list is providing.
>I have a brother with lung cancer and I was able to get good information
>within 24 hours and mailed to him the next day.  When he went to see
>the Oncologist specialist you only get to see once, he was already
>prepared with knowledge of the words they use, and had a list of questions
>he needed answered.  He was so very appreciative that I thought this kind
>of service should be available to the everyday world citizen.
>Problem is that not all people have computers or want one.
>Not all people have the time to spend learning the software or the Internet.
>Just the language alone is overwhelming for non-computer folks.
>Not all people can afford or want an Internet Connection or have the time
>to spend at a computer using it.
>I have since done the same kind of searches for others and they are all
>fabergasted at what can be done.
>
>Dorothy Freeman
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---
Susan MacMillan            e-mail: [log in to unmask]
The University of Lethbridge