NetWellness Experts Answer 10,000th Question
Theodore Allan Morris
Popularity of "Ask An Expert" Continues to Grow
Cincinnati, Ohio [July 7, 2000]-This month, NetWellness, the online health
information resource answered the 10,000th question since its inception in
1995. NetWellness is a nonprofit consumer health web site that provides
high quality information created and evaluated by medical and health
professional faculty at the University of Cincinnati (UC), The Ohio State
University, and Case Western Reserve University. Health care faculty from
the three universities serve as "experts" in NetWellness' popular,
interactive "Ask an Expert" service.
David Ficker, MD, assistant professor of neurology and an epilepsy expert
answered the 10,000th question posted to NetWellness by explaining the term
craniopharyngioma, which is a benign brain tumor. He also provided the
concerned friend who asked the question with other references to consult
and recommended two highly respected brain surgeons.
Roger Guard, assistant senior vice president, Academic Information
Technology and Libraries at the UC Medical Center says, "NetWellness joined
the web as a University of Cincinnati experiment in June 1995 with one
health expert in pharmacy & medications." Since that time, more than two
hundred experts in over 50 health topics answered 10,000 consumer questions
in five years. "It is gratifying to be part of NetWellness growth to Ohio's
three Carnegie I Research Universities-UC, Ohio State, and Case Western
Reserve University," says Guard, principal investigator of the original
NetWellness grant and chair of the NetWellness editorial board.
According to Stephen Marine, NetWellness program director, "One reason for
its popularity is that NetWellness experts respond to all legitimate
questions, usually within two to three days." Answers are archived for
other visitors to browse or search. NetWellness also links to nearly 1,000
fully evaluated web sites on virtually all health topics, including many
serious illnesses. NetWellness was one of the first online health
information websites with an "Ask an Expert" service. During this past
year, NetWellness answered over 4,000 questions from its visitors.
Forbes Magazine reviewed NetWellness as one of only six health sites
included in its Best of the Web issue last September. In June 2000
Forbes.com called NetWellness reliable, citing "Ask an Expert" as the best
feature of NetWellness.
NetWellness is available to all Ohio citizens via the Ohio Public Library
Information Network (OPLIN). OPLIN provides high speed internet
connectivity and information databases in many subjects to Ohio's 700
community libraries which house more than 6,000 computer
workstations. NetWellness also partners with INFOhio, the Information
Network for Ohio Schools, to develop resource tools and strategies for Ohio
teachers to integrate NetWellness into classroom instruction.
Contact: (513) 558-8766
me...@netwellness.org
Web site: netwellness.org