Survey: Do you use the Internet as a resource for patient education materials?

I've just started using the internet for patient education. Used it the other day when a patient asked for information on hypokalemia and GERD.

If anyone knows of any good patient education sites that I can use to make free printouts at work I would appreciate it.

all the time.

Every single day, I hate to say.

Edited to add: Tweety, I've got a ton for the NICU, but I don't think those would help.

yes

it is a great resource

Which sites are you guys using the most? Does your facility have any guidlines or restrictions on educational materials. I would thin there might be some legal ramifications if inaccurate information was given out that wasn;t endorsed by the faciliti. Hmmm...

I use info off the internet to design my own patient handouts, then have them approved by my supervisor before handing them out. I also put a source at the bottom to attribute the info to and a disclaimer that this information is not actual medical advice and to please see your doctor regarding this topic. When I give it to the families, I also tell them that, and make sure they understand, and then document it in the patient education chart. I keep copies of all original handouts I make with my supervisor's signature on them in a binder.

jadednurse, the patient education materials I use from the internet are for when a patient is discharged.

ie: community support groups, outpatient clinics, phone numbers, etc.

We use a local news/medical site that is a sister company of our facility.

If you have a patient education committee (or whichever committee approves all of your standardized patient forms, handouts, hospital propaganda, etc.) you should be able to submit a handout to them through your supervisor for approval and printing.

llg, I just visited your hospital's web site. What a wonderful resource for parents! Would you mind PM'ing me with some more info about that package (or a contact person, or something like that, if you have it?)?

Where I work, everything you need is on the Inet. It's very helpful to give patients handouts on their disease process, a procedure they are having done, meds they are taking, etc. It's not to say that we are supposed to not do pt. education as RN's, b/c that is one of our tasks. This material just supplements our teaching them; it also allows them to lookover material when they get home. They might read something that the nurse forgot to mention or they might like to review the material beforehand to make sure they understand something.

always use the internet to research, If I doubt the source, I check it out some more..........