About the Consumer Guide to Health Care
Purpose
Searching the Web for health care information can be like looking for a needle
in a haystack. The purpose of this guide is to help Wisconsin residents make better health
care choices by providing easy access to useful information. To meet this goal, we have
identified links to Wisconsin-based organizations and databases wherever possible.
Links are also provided to the most comprehensive national sites. Over time, we hope to
continue to expand access to Wisconsin-specific data and organizations.
Oversight
The Consumer Guide to Health Care was developed in response to a mandate
in Chapter 153, Wisconsin Statutes, which required the
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
(DHS) to produce a guide to assist consumers in choosing health care providers and plans.
The Guide is produced by the Office of Health Informatics in the
Division of Public Health in DHS. DHS provides ongoing oversight of the Guide.
Development
The Department of Health Services contracted with the Center for Health Systems Research and Analysis¹ (University of Wisconsin - Madison) to draft content and provide
design services for the Guide. A variety of people and organizations contributed useful suggestions and
comments about the content, organization and appearance of the Guide.
These included:
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Consumer focus groups
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Experts in consumer health informatics
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Board on Health Care Information members
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The Wisconsin Interagency Coordinating Council, and
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Department of Health Services staff
Disclaimer
Please remember that information alone can't take the place of
health care or human services you may need. The Wisconsin Consumer Guide to
Health Care is an information and referral service only, and does not diagnose
medical conditions, offer medical advice, or endorse specific products or
services.
¹ Bridget Booske, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Last Revised: December 15, 2011
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