Celebrating Over 25 Years of MedlinePlus

Posted by liaison on September 19th, 2024 Posted in: #CC/Academic List, #Public/K-12 List, Public Libraries

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Launched in October 1998 by the National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus has been a trailblazer in providing high-quality, easy-to-understand health information to patients, their families, and friends. Offered by the National Library of Medicine (NLM)—the largest medical library in the world—and a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), it aims to deliver high-quality, relevant health and wellness content in both English and Spanish. Over the past quarter-century, it’s grown into an indispensable tool for anyone looking to make informed health decisions.

MedlinePlus offers:

• 1,000+ Health Topics: Each topic links to relevant clinical trials on ClinicalTrials.gov and journal articles in PubMed.
• Drug Information: Comprehensive summaries for over 1,500 prescription and OTC medications, plus details on 100+ herbs and supplements.
• Medical Tests: Over 300 summaries to help you understand various tests.
• Genetics Information: Insights into around 1,300 genetic conditions, 1,400 genes, and related topics, including about 120 “Help Me Understand Genetics” pages.

If you haven’t checked it out recently, now’s a great time to revisit MedlinePlus and explore its latest features. Are you a new user or need a refresher? MedlinePlus provides guidance and tips for using this resource.