Laser Spine Institute Celebrates National Health Literacy Month & National Spinal Health Day

October is National Health Literacy Month and tomorrow is Spine Health Day, making this an opportune time to discuss health information resources. With the advent of the internet, it is relatively easy to get information on just about any topic, but the freedom to post content renders an interesting mix of information, including everything from tall tales to facts. So, how do you know what is credible? The list below provides a few facts to consider. Please feel free to share any additional tips that you may have.

•    Trusted Source -ensure that that the information on the website is written or contributed by health professionals, who have knowledge or experience related to the specific topic.  In addition, the article should be written in a way that clearly distinguishes fact from opinion or allows the reader to make that distinction.
 
•    Demonstrated Expertise - Claims of expertise and authority should be accompanied by supporting evidence. If the author or contributor is a current practitioner, what is their scope of experience, i.e., how many procedures has he/she successful performed?
 
•    Verifiability - Practitioners and scientists who have been actively engaged in their field usually have verifiable credentials. As such, you are able to obtain information regarding education, training, experience, and practice record from local .gov websites or professional organizations.
 
•    Relevance - Medical and scientific advancements, though occurring at a moderate pace, are ongoing. As such, always check to ensure that content on the website is being updated regularly.  Sites that are organized archived by date or those with date stamps allow you to determine how up to date the information is.

I am sure that Aunt Molly or Uncle Tom mean well and they may even have some good information, but it is always a good idea to verify information with a practitioner. Fortunately, many health organizations are increasingly utilizing the internet to provide patients with free information. Individuals have also become proactive, sharing information gathered from trusted sources with similar conditions.

Spinehealth.com, spineuniverse.com, webmd.com, spine.org, and aaos.org are all good sources for health information. Our monthly newsletter, The Spinal Column, and our blog also provide valuable health information, contributed by current practitioners. This information can be found in the Ask the Doctor & Prevention sections of our newsletter and the Healthy Spine Tips & Emerging vs. Existing Science sections of our blog. To access any of Laser Spine Institute's courtesy services or resources, click on the links below.

•   MRI review from a board certified physician
•   Nationwide educational seminars
•   Spinal Column
•   Laser Spine Institute Blog Tips