Sharp HealthCare System Launches Spanish-Language Web Site
The not-for-profit health system Sharp HealthCare has launched a Spanish-language Web site to provide health information to its "many Hispanic patients." According to the San Diego-based health system, the site is the first of its kind in San Diego County. The Web site includes most of the features available on Sharp's English-language site, including "reliable" information on more than 500 health topics, such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes and heart disease. The new site allows users to create a personalized Web page that enables them to sign up for services such as e-mail reminders for monthly or annual examinations and subscriptions to health-related newsletters and publications. The site also includes up-to-date articles on technological advances and other medical news (Sharp HealthCare release, 2/11). A study conducted last year by RAND Health for the California HealthCare Foundation found that it is difficult to find complete and accurate Spanish-language health content online (California Healthline, 5/23/01). In September, HHS launched a Spanish version of its Healthfinder7 Web site to make information more readily available to Spanish-speaking consumers. The site provides disease-specific information as well as information about wellness, prevention and alternative medicine (California Healthline, 9/27/01).
This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.