MEDICAL
- Cancer Support: The Gathering Place
216.595.9546 or www.touchedbycancer.org
MEDICAL ADVICE
- Cleveland Clinic's Nurse on Call
216.444.1234 or 1-800-801-2273
Answers general health questions - Nurses at University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center
1-800-641-2422
Will answer your cancer questions 8:30a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday - Nurses at MetroHealth Line
216.778.7878
Answer general health questions 24 hours a day - The Ask Rainbow Line at Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital
216.844.7246, press No. 4
Answers Pediatric health questions 24 hours a day
ONLINE MEDICAL INFORMATION
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov - The Cleveland Clinic
www.clevelandclinic.org/health - Familydoctor.org
www.familydoctor.org - Healthfinder
www.healthfinder.gov - KidsHealth.org
www.kidshealth.org - Medline Plus
www.medlineplus.gov - National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov
To get a personal health question answered, go to www.netwellness.org, and click on "Ask an Expert" and follow the directions.
The Medical Library Association - lists 100 of the most reputable web sites for health advice. You can find them at www.caphis.mlanet.org/consumer
PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION INFORMATION
For general information, along with help finding a prescription assistance program to help pay for medication
www.talkaboutrx.org
For details on the best way to get rid of unused or outdated medication, go to www.clevelandhealth.org/Environment and click on "how to dispose of unwanted medication"
CHECK OUT YOUR DOCTOR
To confirm that your doctor is licensed by the Ohio State Medical Board, go to www.med.ohio.gov and click on "Licensee Profile & Status" or call 614-466-3934 and select "License or endorsement inquiries."
To make sure your doctor is board certified in their specialties with the American Board of Medical Specialties, go to www.abms.org and click on "Is your Doctor Certified?"
Get Help with A Hospital Problem-
To reach an ombudsman or someone else who can help you with a complaint or concern:
- At the Cleveland Clinic, 216.444.2544
- At MetroHealth Medical Center, 216.778.5800
- At University Hospitals Case Medical Center, 216.844.7502
HELP CARING FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging
www.psa10a.org or call 216.621.8010
Passport, for help with home healthcare issues, 216.621.0303
TO CHECK ON FOOD RECALLS AND THE SAFETY OF DRUGS AND MEDICAL DEVICES
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration website www.fda.gov
Get Help with a Billing Problem-
- If you have a billing problem with a hospital, call the Cleveland Better Business Bureau, 216.241.7678 or go to www.cleveland.bbb.org and click on "BBB for Consumers."
- If you have a billing problem with your insurance company, call the Ohio Department of Insurance at 1-800-686-1526 and ask to speak to a health-insurance analyst or go to www.ohioinsurance.gov and click on "Consumer Services" then "File a Complaint with ODI."
- If your problem involves Medicare, call 1-800-633-4227 or go to www.medicare.gov and click on "Ombudsman."
- If it concerns Medicaid or Workers' Compensation, get in touch with the Ohio Attorney General's Office at 1-877-244-6446 or go to www.ag.state.oh.us/citizen/consumer/complaints.asp
