Healthfinder.gov, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides reliable and actionable information on preventive health and wellness topics from more than 1,600 government and non‐profit organizations. The site also provides personal, tailored information on clinical preventive services for patients and their families through a specialized Web-based tool called MyHealthFinder, and the new MyFamily Mobile App.

The health advice and recommendations for preventive clinical services is gleaned from leading U.S. authorities including U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the Bright Futures Guidelines, and the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Preventive Services for Women. These recommended services are covered under the Affordable Care Act.

Three evidenced-based components are available at Healthfinder.gov: first is the website itself, which includes 5 sections, each briefly described below under the section labeled “Website Key Features.” On the website, you will find the Web-based Tool, MyHealthFinder.com as well as information and links to the myfamily App on the iTunes store.

The MyHealthFinder Tool allows patients and consumers to search for information about preventive services and acquire easy-to-understand health advice. The myFamily Mobile App provides an on-the-go resource for building and sticking with a health plan. Patients can quickly identify health priorities for themselves and each family member. They can set-up health alerts, track check-ups, medication and vaccinations and put together a monthly calendar. Additionally, patients can share their data with a healthcare provider.

Set Up & Utility for the Tool & the App

On both the Web Tool and the Mobile App, the first step is to enter an individual’s age, sex, and pregnancy status. On the Mobile App, this information is saved by family member name (or however an individual chooses to identify each family member, e.g. Mom, Child 1, etc.). Individual data is not stored on the Web Tool.

Both the Tool and the App provide information on preventative services. After selecting a service, the patient can choose to (a) learn about the recommended service (e.g., Blood Pressure Check-up) and/or (b) use the health resource locator to find a provider. The App allows patients to build a prioritized “health to do list,” check-off when a recommended service has been performed and set reminders for future dates in a calendar. The Tool and the App offer an alphabetical database of health topics.

However, only on the App can patients enter the name of a medication and set reminders, and download a health record that can be emailed to a physician. Once a service is performed, such as getting blood pressure checked, the patient clicks the “I did this” icon and a calendar pops up to enter the date the service was performed.

The App also has a GPS based locator for Hospitals, Mental Health and Substance Abuse facilities, and Pharmacies. It is not clear how these facilities are selected for inclusion.

What to Improve:

• After clicking the Calendar to add an item to the To Do List (and being shown a message “Added to To Do List”), this reviewer was not able to find the To Do List within the App. The item did not download to the iPhone 5 Reminders App.

• This reviewer could not locate, within the App, any kind of “record” of services performed or actions taken that could be shared via email. There should be an icon for each family member’s record that is viewable on the mobile device.

Web Tool & App Overall Key Features

• Patient-centered, evidence-based recommendations that enhance patient-provider communication and facilitate adherence to preventive and treatment protocols.

• Both the Web-based MyHealthFinder Tool and the App encourage patients to speak with their doctor or nurse to decide which preventive services are appropriate for them.

• The Medication Reminder provides alerts for the date, time and frequency with which a medication has to be taken.

• Sharp, colorful and intuitive interface on the Website and the App.

HealthFinder.gov Website Key Features:

• Medical Library Association’s (MLA) “Top Ten Consumer Health Websites.”

• Quick Guide to Healthy Living includes information on 12 main health subject areas, such as nutrition, fitness, cancer prevention and screening, sexually transmitted disease, heart health, daily wellness, pregnancy and much more.

• Myhealthfinder Tool (described above).

• Personal Health Tools can be tailored to individual needs, such as physical activity and menu planners, check-up reminder, health calculators (e.g., BMI, calorie counters, target heart rate) many with links to helpful videos.

• Find Services and Informationhas search functionality to assist patients with finding a health care provider, healthcare facility or clinic.

• Health News offers a variety of ways for patients to stay informed about health topics, healthcare news and self-care.

Resources

• Tutorial of MyHealthFinder.gov:  http://www.healthfinder.gov/tutorial/
• PowerPoint for myHealthFinder (download ideal for clinicians)
• Healthfinder.gov Handout with illustrations:  http://lindybrown.com/presentations/healthfinder-handout.pdf
• Video Demonstrations:

       http://lyfechannel.com/healthfinder_app/

       http://www.hhs.gov/digitalstrategy/mobile/healthfinder-app.html

• Upload Widgets for MyHealthFinder to your practice website as a resource for patients (many other health widgets available at the link noted)
• State HealthFinder sites specific to the services and practitioners in a given state are available (search “Name of State MyHealthFinder” example for Florida)

*The MyFamily App was the winner of the healthfinder.gov Mobile App Challenge sponsored by HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Health 2.0. Lyfechannel, a small privately-held company that translates evidence-based health behavior and adherence studies into mobile patient experiences, developed the myfamily app.

Karen M. Rider, M.A. is a freelance writer who specializes in wellness, health psychology and healthcare news. In addition to writing for print and digital publications, Karen writes marketing content for healthcare and wellness practitioners across a variety of specialties. View Karen’s online portfolio Connect on LinkedIn.