HealthLink Directories

HealthLink Directories are consumer health information resources that have been developed by Westmead Hospital, a major Australian public teaching hospital, and Data Diction P/L, a commercial software developer. HealthLink has created a database and cross referencing system that allows information to be collected across a very broad range of service and practitioner types. Recognizing the different needs of city and rural regions, HealthLink publishes, from this database, a range of directories.

Examples of the directories are:

1. The Australian Guide to Consumer Health Information. A national resource specializing in providing accurate information relating to 1600 peak health-related support organizations;
2. HealthLink Western Sydney. A detailed, metropolitan-based resource, which provides an extensive listing of health-related services and doctors within a defined geographical area.

Since 1996 the directories have been installed in hospitals, GP surgeries, libraries, information services and a range of other health-care and community settings. Evaluation of the resources has highlighted their many perceived benefits including timeliness of information provision, reduction in duplication of effort, ease of use, and accuracy of the information. The directories are published both on the Internet, as an online searchable resource, and as MS Windows standalone applications.

HealthLink Directories won the following award in the Games:

Philadelphia, PA (May 27-28, 1998):

• Geographic Locator Award

Contact information:

Moira L. Bryant
Coordinator HealthLink Directories
Westmead Hospital
Westmead, NSW 2145 Australia

Web: http://www.datadiction.com.au/healthlink/

http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/confrnce/partnr98/Showcase/healthlink.htm