ONLINE SUPPORT GROUPS

Online support groups can be great when we are going through something difficult or new. Finding an online support group can offer us feelings of hope and less loneliness. Support groups can also help us find out information on a new diagnosis or problem by reading from others who have or are experiencing similar things. In these support groups we are able to share our honest and true feelings without having to tell people we know.

Although there are many benefits to online support groups, there are also some risks to be aware of.
Be careful of how much personal information you share. Remember you are putting this information out their to strangers. Sometimes group members can be disrespectful and rude. Although we don't actually know these people it can still be hurtful. Also these people, although sharing similar experiences are not medical professionals. The advice given may not be sound.

There are support groups for about every topic out there.The following are some options for different support groups.
https://adaa.org/adaa-online-support-group offers an online support group for anxiety and depression.

https://www.babycenter.com/0_joining-a-moms-group-how-to-find-one-that-suits-you_11800.bc offers support groups for expecting and postpartum moms. Here you can find other moms who are of similar gestation as you and share symptoms or milestones and talk babies and motherhood with one another.

There are also many support groups on Facebook. Their you can search for groups and potentially find one that fits your needs. Make sure that you look at the privacy settings before you share things that are personal. Some Facebook pages can be seen by anyone, not just members of the group. Here is an example of a facebook group that focuses on removing stress that is caused by illness or disability.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/beyondmybattle

References

ADAA Online Support Group. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2019, from https://adaa.org/adaa-online-support-group

Beyond My Battle - Support Group. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2019, from https://www.facebook.com/groups/beyondmybattle

How to choose the right support group. (2018, June 26). Retrieved November 2, 2019, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/support-groups/art-20044655

Joining a moms group: How to find one that suits you. (2015, November 25). Retrieved November 2, 2019, from https://www.babycenter.com/0_joining-a-moms-group-how-to-find-one-that-suits-you_11800.bc

PERSONAL HEALTH RECORDS & PATIENT PORTALS

A personal health record is a place to collect information about your health. Some people save vaccine records and other medical papers in a folder. This is the start of a personal health record. One problem with paper health records is that they are not easily available when you need them. Making your personal health record available electronically allows you to access your information anywhere you have an internet connection. This is very helpful in times of an emergency when information is needed immediately.

 What can be included in a personal health record?:

Allergies: environmental, drug, and food

Medication: name, strength, and when you take the medication

Doctor’s names and phone numbers

List of diseases, illnesses, surgeries, and hospitalizations

Family medical history

Vaccine history

Lab tests and results

Home blood pressure readings, dietary habits, exercise habits, health goals 

Some of the drawbacks of creating a personal health record are that it can be time consuming to gather all of the information. Also, most of the time the information has to be added in manually each time something has changed or needs to be updated because it doesn’t automatically sync with the hospitals records. Common concerns about making a personal health record available electronically is whether or not it is secure. In response to these concerns there are reputable personal  health record companies that go to extra measures to make sure your personal health information is secure and kept private.

 

Another option for accessing your health information is using patient portals. A patient portal is updated and kept current by your doctor's office. Patient portals allow patients to access information like:

Medication lists

Future appointments (with appointment reminders)

Summaries from doctor appointments

Lab and test results

Secure email messaging with the doctor or other healthcare professionals

Make sure to store your username and password in a safe place and do not share this information with others. This will help keep your medical information secure and private. 

 

Reference

Mayo Clinic. (2017, July 6). Personal health records and patient portals. Retrieved October 31, 2019, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/personal-health-record/art-20047273

COMPUTER BASICS

This post will be reviewing basic computer information for you. Knowing how to access the web and improve computer literacy skills is essential to having better access to health information. If you do not have a computer or access to the internet you may want to head to your local library. Many libraries allow you to use computers with access to the internet that allow for web browsing. Remember that whenever you are on a public computer or device not to save your username and password to it. Saving this information on a public computer or device would allow other individuals to access your private information. 

 

In order to access the internet you need internet service. If you want to access the internet from home you will need to pay an internet service provider to have this service. There are a variety of companies to go through to purchase internet service. A couple of terms you will hear when setting up internet service is modems and routers. A router creates a network between the computers in your home and the modem connects those computers to the internet. You can set your router up to offer Wi-Fi which is a wireless way of connecting to the router. This is helpful for accessing the internet from laptops, tablets, and cell phones. You can also access free Wi-Fi at a variety of cafe's, restaurants, and coffee shops. 

 

When doing a search on the internet you will use a web browser. A web browser is a software application that retrieves information from the web in the form of images, videos, websites, and files. Examples of web browsers are Firefox, Chrome, and Internet Explorer. Another term that you may hear when learning about the internet is “the cloud.” “The cloud” refers to cloud computing which offers resources like data storage centers to users of the internet. If you are interested in learning and improving computer literacy skills you can check with your local library to see if they offer any classes. Another option is to sign up for a basic course at a local community college.

 

References

 

The ARC. (n.d.). Beginning computer literacy. Retrieved November 1, 2019, from https://web.iit.edu/sites/web/files/departments/academic-affairs/academic-resource-center/pdfs/Beginning_Computer_Literacy.pdf

Harper College.Retrieved November 1, 2019, from http://dept.harpercollege.edu/gedstudy/handouts/computer_literacy_skills.pdf

 

Hoffman, C. (2017, April 25). What’s the Difference Between a Modem and a Router?. Retrieved November 1, 2019, from https://www.howtogeek.com/234233/whats-the-difference-between-a-modem-and-a-router/

 

Webopedia. (n.d.). What is a browser (web browser)?. Retrieved November 1, 2019, from https://www.webopedia.com/TERM/B/browser.html

 

Webopedia. (n.d.). What is cloud computing?. Retrieved November 1, 2019, from https://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/cloud_computing.html