EMP Web ResourcesHealthwise Knowledgebase

The Healthwise Knowledgebase site is associated with the Harvard University Medical School and produced by Healthwise - a nonprofit organization founded in 1975, with the mission: ''to help people make better health decisions''.

According to their website, people use Healthwise information ''more than 100 million times a tear [in order to ] to take an active role in their health''.

According to the healthwise people: ''..the best formula for making health decisions is to combine the most reliable medical facts with [their] personal feelings. Put more simply: Medical Information + Their Information = Better Health Decisions''.

Peoples decisions, they argue: ''...influence [their] overall well-being as well as the quality and cost of [their] care. By taking an active role in [their] health, [people] are likely to be happier with the care [they] receive and the results [they] achieve.''

Find below links to the Home Page of the site and the links on the general site to the various bodies of information on the data base .

Links:

1. Home Page [healthwise.net]
2. Health Topics: Illnesses, diseases, symptoms, first aid, wellness...
3. Topics by Category: Topics grouped by related health category...
4. Symptom Checker: Body map to help find and learn about symptoms...
5. Decision Points: Tools for making health decisions...
6. Medical Tests: Tests and exams for medical conditions...
7. Medications: Prescription and non-prescription drugs..
8. Interactive Tools: Quizzes and calculators to help manage health...
9. Support Groups: Self-help and support groups...

EMP Web Resources:Get Body Smart

GetBodySmart is being developed by Scott Sheffield and represents his attempted to ''create a fully animated and interactive eBook about human anatomy and physiology.' The contents and design of this long-term project are ''based on his 20 years of teaching this material at the university level.''

While it is being constructed, he is: ''inviting all interested teachers, students, healthcare professions, and others to use the free tutorials and quizzes in GetBodySmart to help explain the body's complex physiological interactions and illustrate its important anatomical landmarks.''

The site is in the very early stages of development, and he notes that a lot of content is still missing. He is however trying to make additions/updates every day. Check it out.

Pleas find below links to: the Home Page for the site and a sample page related to the Nose and Nasal Cavity.
Links:
1. Get Body Smart [getbodysmart.com]
2. Sample: The Nose and Nasal Cavity

EMP Web Resources:NHS Choices Body Map

The Body Map located on the NHS: Choice blogspot is another interesting tool that allows you to get information about conditions and treatments related to the different parts of the bodies of two figures - a man and a women.

You can search for different body parts ie. the head & Neck, the Chest & Back, the Arms & the Hands, the Abdomen, and the Legs & the Feet and subjects related to the whole body ie. Blood, Nerves, Bones, Muscles, Circulation, Skin, Hair and Joints.

You might find it useful once you find out the topic of the final exam.

Links:
1. HNS Choices: Body Map

EMP Web ResourcesThe Virtual Body

The Virtual Body aims to help educate children and adults alike on the workings of the human brain, heart, skeleton system, and digestive system.

Using Shockwave technology enables the Virtual Body to speed through detailed graphics with an audio commentary.

According to MEDtropolis, who developed the site: ''Kids love it for the games and quick special effects. Teachers love it because it's fun and educational''.

Find below links to The Virtual Body [I'll post something on MEDTropoli - the people who developed it - soon].

Link:
The Virtual Body [medtropopis.cm]

EMP Web Resourses:MedicinePlus: Videos of Surgical Procedures

This page provides links to prerecorded webcasts of surgical procedures. These are actual operations performed at medical centers in the United States since January 2004. The videos last an hour. Among the procedures included are: a Aortic Aneurysm Repair, a Carpal Tunnel Release, and a Partial Nephrectomy

Most of the videos, especially those dated after July 15, 2007, are in Flash format. You will need Flash to view the programs. You can download the flash players at www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer.

Some of the videos dated before July 15, 2007 are in RealPlayer; you will need the latest version of RealPlayer to view the programs. If you do not have Real Player, you will be prompted to obtain a free download of the software before you view the presentation. You can download the RealPlayer media player at www.real.com.

One of the great advantages of these videos is that transcripts are provided for most programs if you cannot understand what is being said.

Links:
1. Videos of Surgical Procedures [medicineplus.com]

EMP Web Resources:The Learning Edge: Health Features

The 'Learning Edge' in an interactive online newspaper produced by Ontario's Wellington County Learning Centre in Canada which aims to provide residents of the County with a ''vital learning service and with information about literacy issues''.

Each of the first four issues of 'The Learning Edge' contained 'health features' which contained texst and audios along with quizzes and other learning activities. The subjects covered were:

• Men & Vegetables;
• Depression;
• Menopause; &
• Eating Less Meat

Link:
1. The Learning Edge [thewclc.ca]

EMP Web Resources: The Human Body

A fun site from apples4theteacher.com 'The Human Body' is an animated trip through the human body. While meant primarily for children under 12, you might find it of interest given that the voices heard are those of children and, as usual with most of the sites I have posted, you can read as you listen.

You might even think about sharing it with your younger brothers and sisters so that they can have an idea of what you are studying!!

Link:
The Human Body [apples4theteacher.com]

EMP Web Resources:Interactive Health Videos

I just came across this set of resources hosted by our friends at Medicine Plus. The tutorials interactive health education resources from the Patient Education Institute. Using animated graphics each tutorial explains a procedure or condition in easy-to-read language. You can also listen to the tutorial with the text provided.

The videos are divided up into sections under the headings: Diseases and Condition; Tests and Diagnostic Procedures; and, Surgery and Treatment Procedures and the tutorials listed [and there are nearly 100 of them are tutorials on: Angina, Bronchoscopy, and, Managing Stress.

While the information in the videos is intended for the general public, they provided accurate information in clear easy to understand English and have the added advantage of having text to read as you listen.

Links:
1. Interactive Health Videos [MedicinePlus.com]

EMP Web Resources:Mouth Power

As you are now all experts on the mouth, check out the online game - Mouth Power -from the US's National Museum of Dentistry.

Find out how to keep your mouth fresh. ''What is the secret to a healthy smile?'' Mouthie asks, ''Taking good care of your teeth!''.

Explore Mouthie's online laboratory to learn how to brush your teeth, what tobacco can do to your mouth, and how to make healthy food choices.

Link:
1. Mouth Power [National Museum of Dentistry]

EMP Web ResourcesEdHead Animated Surgery Simulations

To unwind after the exams how about trying your hand at doing a bit of [virtual] surgery! You can do this by checking out some of the animated operations available at http://www.edheads.org/.

Edheads aims to help students learn through educational games and activities designed to meet state and national standards. They partner with various school systems in the United States, which 'help them research, design and test their activities every step of the way'. Edheads has been recognized by almost every major award on the Web for heir excellent educational content!

Find below links to their: Virtual Hip Replacement; Virtual Hip Resurfacing; Deep Brain Simulation; and Virtual Knee Operation activities. Explore the site to find other activities and virtual simulations. There are also links to: Glossaries, Surgery Videos, and Interesting People in these various fields you might find useful.

Links:
1. Virtual Hip Replacement [EdHeads.org]
2. Virtual Hip Resurfacing [EdHeads.org]
3. Deep Brain Simulation [EdHeads.org]
4. Virtual Knee Operation [EdHeads.org]

EMP Web Resources:Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day: Health

Larry Ferlazzo is an English Language Educator who has been running a web site - larryferlazzo.edublogs.org - with the aim of providing a source for self-access by students. Many classes at the school in which he works it, including their daily after-school ESL computer lab. His hope is classes [and students] throughout the world will use it, too.

While Ferlazzo has broken up his site into a number if different topics, the one of particular interest for Medical Students in that entitle 'Health' [see the link below]. Under this heading you'll find links to lots of health related information sites - most of which have both text and audio. While some of these are fairly simple, many have quite valuable health related information in simple and easy to understand English.

Links:
Health [LarryFerlazzo.com]

EMP Web Resources:UHK:Medical Terminology Web

To test out your knowledge and or familiarity with the components of medical terminology check out the 'Medical Terminology' website of the University of Hong Kong English Center. Designed primarily for students majoring in Chinese medicine, dentistry, medicine, and nursing, the pages show a selected list of the frequently found terms that students may encounter in their readings and lectures. As the site notes, the lists and exercises are not meant to be comprehensive however it is hoped that the website will help students recognize technical terms so that they can later use them correctly.

Link:
UHN: Medical Terminology Web

EMP Web Resources:About.com

One of the more consistent contributors of ESL material of the web is Kenneth Beare, who has been contributing articles, activities and other things for both English Language Teachers and students on the About.com site - esl.about.com since 1997. In his posting one English for medical Purposes, Bare presents dialogues focusing on the English you'll need if you visit the doctor, or if you work in the medical profession. Each dialogue includes a key vocabulary section, as well as a follow-up comprehension quiz.

Link:
About.com: English for Medical Purposes

EMP Web Resources:DoctorSecrets.com

Not strictly speaking a 'English for Medical Purposes' web resource, Doctor Secrets nontheless aims to provide information for Doctors and Doctoring in a language that is - to borrow the words in its slogan - ''clear, simple and quick''. Sites like these are interesting not only for the information they provide about medical problems but also because it are sites like these that patients / people in the public visit before visiting doctors.

Link:
doctorsecrets.com

EMP Web Resources:EnglishClub.com

According to the EnglishClub.com web site [according to them the ] ''..patients come in all different shapes and sizes. They also speak many different languages.'' Whether you are working abroad or at home, there will come a time when you will need to rely on English to communicate. The pages produced by them, they state: ''...can help nurses, doctors, pharmacists, paramedics, receptionists, specialists or even those who volunteer. They will help you learn some basic English expressions and vocabulary related to the medical field. By studying and practicing Medical English, you will be able to make your patients feel more comfortable, and have a better understanding of their needs. You will also learn how to talk to their loved ones and communicate with other medical staff who speak English.''

Link:
EnglishClub.com

EMP Web Resources:BusinessEnglishSite.com

While there are a number of sites specifically for Hospital and/or Medical English, many genral ESL student sites also have pages devoted to the type of English needed by Doctors and Medical staff. One such page is that produced by the BusinessEnglishSite.com. These exercises are for doctors (and other health-care professionals) looking to practice medical terminology (or to speak to patients in a more natural way) as well as for patients who want to communicate better with their physicians. All their exercises (except the beginners' exercises) are meant for intermediate-Advanced, although.

Link:
BusinessEnglishSite:Medical English

EMP Web Resources:Hospital English.com

HospitalEnglish.com contains FREE resources for medical professionals studying English and medical printables for teachers. It hosts medical vocabulary builders, patient counseling activities, disease state directors health care professional articles, medical flashcards, hospital lesson plans, and ESP worksheets. As an evolving web site one can expect that there will be more to come.

Link:
hospitalenglish.com

EMP Web Resources:englishmed.com

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Please find below a link to englishmed.com. An initiative of Elanguest, the site is sponsored sponsored by the European union's Leonardo Da Vinci project.

You will find thousands of exercises on the site and over 1.5 hours of spoken conversations.

Link:
englishmed.com

EMP Web Resources: Oxford English For Careers: Medicine / Nursing

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Below is a link to the Student's website for the Medicine 1 textbook in the Oxford English for Careers series.

While the site is linked to themes covered in the Oxford for English Careers: Medicine 1 textbook, you can use the site independently to practice your Professional Medical English listening and vocabulary.

While there, check out the student sites for the Oxford for English Careers: Nursing 1& 2:

Links:
OEC: Medicine 1 Student Site
OEC: Nursing 1 Student Site
OEC: Nursing 2 Student Site