Patient Resources
General Resources
www.211Cleveland.org
Find this gem of a free resource with a click or a few taps on your phone. Dial 2-1-1 (or 216-436-2000 in Cuyahoga County) and REAL people answer the phone 24 hours of the day, every day. First Call For Help’s trained Information Specialists know their stuff, so they can link callers to hundreds of health and social services in Cuyahoga, Medina and Geauga counties.. Health care topics range from financial help and counseling to medical equipment programs and support groups. Confidentiality for callers is guaranteed.
Call 440-285-3194 in Geauga County or 888-330-4211 in Medina County. Or you can browse this web site to find the resources you need. Information on more than 10,000 community services is listed.
Netwellness
NetWellness is a commercial-free consumer health site and a partner of Better Health Greater Cleveland. Based at Case Western Reserve University, the site provides high-quality health information and education created and evaluated by medical faculty at Case, the University of Cincinnati and Ohio State University.
Congestive Heart Failure
Heart Failure: A self-directed program to learn about heart failure.
Source: National Library of Medicine
Questions and Answers about Heart Failure
Heart failure is a condition that affects nearly five million Americans of all ages and is responsible for more hospitalizations than all forms of cancer combined. Over 400,000 new cases of heart failure will be diagnosed in the next year. Yet many people with heart failure are not aware they have it, because some of the most common symptoms of heart failure, such as feeling tired and short of breath, are often mistaken for normal signs of getting older.
Source: Heart Failure Society of America
Medline Plus
A searchable, detailed, trustworthy site that includes a medical encyclopedia, information on drugs and supplements and any health topic that comes to mind – in 40 languages.
Source: National Library of Medicine
Diabetes
Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland
The Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland is a strictly local organization dedicated to serving people of all ages with diabetes. From support groups to “Ask an Educator” feature, you’ll find information you need to help you successfully manage your diabetes. To find out more by phone, call 216-591-0800.
American Diabetes Association
The national association has great tools, information, latest news and links to the local chapter.
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
Diabetes topics from A-to-Z.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Knock Your Socks Off! Checklist
A list of do's and don'ts to keep your feet fit for life
Source: American Podiatric Medical Association
Exercise
Exercise and Fitness
Swimming, cycling, jogging, skiing, aerobic dancing, walking or many other activities can help your heart. Whether it's included in an exercise program or part of your daily routine, all physical activity adds up to a healthier heart.
Source: American Heart Association
The Exercise Habit
Good advice if you want to get the habit or keep your exercise going.
Source: American Academy of Family Physicians
Heart Disease
American Heart Association
The site is rich with information and practical tools for heart disease and conditions that often are its companions, including diabetes. There tools to track glucose and medicines, build a family tree, assess risks, and many more.
Insurance
Choosing a health plan
If you're lucky enough to have a choice of health insurance -- nevermind insurance at all -- this tip sheet will help you choose the one that's right for you, your family and your budget.
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality
My Healthcare is Killing Me, a Survival Guide for the American Health Care Consumer
Confused and frustrated by the health care system? Check out a free guide. It offers information to help you through the maze of insurance and avoid common financial. The tidy, well-organized book is free to read on your computer or to download.
Source: changehealthcare.com
Managing Your Condition
Self-management: Taking Charge of Your Health
Self-management of chronic illness means that you take responsibility for doing what it takes to manage your illness effectively. It’s important for you to be responsible for your health because the treatment recommendations your doctor makes won’t do any good unless you follow them. He or she can’t make decisions for you or make you change your behavior. Only you can do these things.
Source: American Academy of Family Physicians
The Power to Control Diabetes is in Your Hands
Basics of diabetes control, good information about what Medicare covers and questions to ask.
Source: National Diabetes Education Program
Smoking
Help for Smokers and Other Tobacco Users
Quitting is hard. Many people try several times before they quit for good. But they do succeed. This booklet tells you about ways you can quit.
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Support and Advice From Your Clinician
You Can Quit Smoking
Quitting takes hard work and a lot of effort, but the benefits are explained below, as are the key steps to quitting successfully. A Quit Plan for smokers based on scientific research about what will give you the best chances of quitting.
Smoking & How to Quit
About 1 out of every 5 women in America smokes, and women are starting to smoke at younger and younger ages. Did you know that lung cancer kills more women every year than breast cancer? Information and tools to quit.
Source: The National Women’s Health Information Center
Talking to Your Doctor
Tips for Talking to Your Doctor
Taking an active role in your health care can help you get the best care possible from your doctor. One way to do this is to improve your relationship with your doctor. Read tips to help you and your doctor improve your health care together.
Source: American Academy of Family Physicians
Quick Tips – When Talking with Your Doctor
The single most important way you can stay healthy is to be an active member of your own health care team. One way to get high-quality health care is to find and use information and take an active role in all of the decisions made about your care.
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Quick Tips—When Getting Medical Tests
The single most important way you can stay healthy is to be an active member of your own health care team. One way to get high-quality health care is to find and use information and take an active role in all of the decisions made about your care.
This information will help you when making decisions about medical tests.
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Be Prepared for Medical Appointments
Build Your Question List. Improving health care quality is a team effort. You can improve your care and the care of your loved ones by taking an active role in your health care. Ask questions. Understand your condition. Evaluate your options.
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Weight Loss and Weight Control
Weight Control Information Network
A variety of tips, links and good information about weight control and exercise.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases