For busy hospital administrators and mangers, the Internet can be an invaluable tool for locating a broad spectrum of information ranging from the elusive needle to the entire haystack. However, searching the Internet can be time-consuming, particularly when there's no guarantee that what you want is actually available somewhere. So the use of the term "surfing" is misleading - it's more like panning for gold.
Along with the plethora of information currently available, it is important to keep in mind that new web sites are constantly being developed, and that many existing sites are continually modified and enhanced.
To help you in the search for information, The Hospital Quarterly will offer this guide to top web sites on an ongoing basis. But first a word of caution: Identifying top sites is at best a subjective endeavor. In this review, there is no intention to engage in comparative ranking. These are simply important sites. The basic criteria will involve the site's ability or potential to provide access to information of interest or significance to people interested in health policy or research, or those involved in the management and delivery of health care.
If you would like your site reviewed or if you would like your site linked to our own homepage - thequarterly.com [under construction] - send your URL to notes@longwoods.com. Do it now!
The December issue of The Hospital Quarterly will feature Canadian research sites.
- HEALTH CANADA
http://www.hwc.ca- CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
http://www.cma.ca- U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
http://www.dhhs.gov- AMERICAN HOSPITAL PUBLISHING INC. (AMPHI)
http://www.amhpi.com- JOINT COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS
http://www.jcaho.org- HOSPITAL WEB http://neuro-www.mgh.harvard.edu/hospitalweb.nclk
- HEALNET
http://hiru.mcmaster.ca/nce/default.htm- MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA (MRC)
http://www.mrc.hwc.ca- CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH INFORMATION
http://www.cihi.ca- CANADIAN POLICY RESEARCH NETWORK
http://www.cprn.com
