Middetown Thrall Library's reference and circulating and collections contain a variety of items covering all aspects of health, medicine, nutrition, mental health, fitness, and wellness.

At Thrall, health is classified according to the numerical "Dewey Decimal System" and can be found in the "610s" sections of our nonfiction collections. To find them, just browse the nonfiction aisles until you reach the number 610.

Here is a general idea of how this area is arranged:

• 610 - General Medicine / Health Topics
• 611 - Anatomy
• 612 - Physiology
• 613 - Personal Health, Safety, Diets, Nutrition, Fitness
• 614 - Diseases - Prevention of
• 615 - Drugs (Pharmacology), Therapies, Alternative Medicine
• 616 - Diseases
• 617 - Surgical and Medical Procedures
• 618 - Women, Children, and Senior Health Issues

It can be difficult to find information on certain health topics, so please feel free to stop by Reference so we can help you discover what items are available on your topics of interest.

Our Reference Department can be reached at (845) 341-5461 when the library is open.

You can also ask a librarian a question over the Internet at any time.

These are some of the many databases available to you as a member of Middletown Thrall Library:

Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health

"Provides in-depth coverage of pediatric diseases and disorders, with issues related to physical and cognitive and behavioral development."

Health Reference Center Academic

"Created specifically for students, knowledgeable consumer health researchers and health care professionals, Health Reference Center Academic integrates millions of articles from a wide range of full-text nursing and allied health journals, newspapers, magazines, newsletters and select consumer health information sources with full-text reference works and hundreds of health-related multimedia."

Health Reference Series Online

"Each volume in the Health Reference Series is an easy-to-use and authoritative source designed for lay readers-consumers with no specific medical knowledge. The books are organized in a logical and thoughtful way, with a detailed contents section that shows exactly where to find the information readers need. Each chapter is written in a straightforward, easy-to-understand writing style. Headings within the chapters help readers understand the material and find the facts they need, while illustrations, charts, graphs, and other features break up the text and convey facts in different ways." "Sourcebook" topics in this series include: Aids, Alcoholism, Allergies, Alzheimers Disease, Arthritis, Asthma, Blood and Circulatory Disorders, Brain Disorders, Breast Cancer, Cancer, Cancer For Women, Cardiovascular Disorders, Child Abuse, Childhood Diseases and Disorders, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Contagious Diseases, Dental Care and Oral Health, Diabetes, Diet and Nutrition, Disabilities, Domestic Violence, Drug Abuse, Environmental Health, Fitness and Exercise, Gastrointestinal Diseases and Disorders, Genetic Disorders , Immune System Disorders, Learning Disabilities, Medical Tests, Men's Health Concerns, Mental Health Disorders, Respiratory Disorders, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Sleep Disorders, Stress-Related Disorders.

Salem Health: Magill's Medical Guide

"The Guide covers diseases, disorders, treatments, procedures, specialties, anatomy, biology, and issues in an A-Z format, with sidebars addressing recent developments in medicine and concise information boxes for all diseases and disorders."

Also be sure to explore our general research databases and complete encyclopedias for more information.

If at any point you would like some assistance, please call our librarians at 341-5461 or use our Ask a Librarian service

Below you will find just a sampling of the many health reference titles available to you at Middletown Thrall Library.

Since these are "reference books" and cannot be borrowed, they are always available to researchers! (Hundreds of health books in our circulating collections can be checked out.)

Call numbers follow each title, indicating where you can find these items in our Reference shelves. A librarian can help you locate what you need!

Please select a topic scroll down this page to browse specific titles, or click here to explore major health topics in the library system catalog.



Our Government Documents area (located near our magazine/periodical room) also provides a number of health documents, reports, studies, statistics, and more.

Information in this area are arranged alphabetically according to the government agency that published the information. The call numbers (known as "SuDoc numbers") start with letters from the agency.

In the "HE" section you will find information published by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department.

There are literally thousands of documents throughout this area, so we encourage you to come to Reference so we can help you find what you need.

You can click here to browse specific health topics in the library system catalog.

About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC publishes this directory of herbal and alternative treatments with particular emphasis on their interactions with other treatments and medications.

Alternative Medicine: Evaluate Claims of Treatment Success

Article from the Mayo Clinic.

CAM on PubMed

"Your literature search will be automatically limited to the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) subset of PubMed. Your searches are free." From NCCIH and the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CAM)

Overview of CAM, links to specific conditions and alternative treatments, and more. Provided by MedLinePlus, from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health.

Frequently Asked Questions about Musical Therapy

Therapeutical uses/values of music and types of therapies. From the American Music Therapy Association. See also their About page for these additional sections: Definition and Quotes about Music Therapy, Music Therapy in the Media (news clippings).

Healthfinder: Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Find links to credible complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM) related articles, images and videos, links to CAM clinical trials, and links to experts and practitioners. Provided by MedLinePlus, from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Government site sponsored by the National Institutes for Health has a section describing the domains of complementary and alternative medicine, a frequently asked questions section, and links to extensive research databases especially CAM Citation Index. NCCAM issues reports and a newsletter which are available full-text at the site.

See also these three sections in NCCAM:

Herbs at a Glance

"Herbs at a Glance is a series of fact sheets that provides basic information about specific herbs or botanicals-common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information."

Homeopathy

"This fact sheet provides a general overview of homeopathy and suggests sources for additional information."

Meditation In Depth

Information on the effectiveness of mediation for conditions including high blood pressure, IBS, anxiety, ulcerative colitis, insomnia, and depression.

ScienceDaily: Alternative Medicine News

Alzheimer's Association

"The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health."

Caregiving

"Caring for a person with Alzheimer's or dementia often involves a team of people. Whether you provide daily caregiving, participate in decision making, or simply care about a person with the disease - we have resources to help." From the Alzheimer's Association.

Community Resource Finder

Topics include: Alzheimer's Association Programs and Events; AARP Programs and Events; Care at Home; Community Services; Housing Options; and Medical Services. From the Alzheimer's Association and AARP.

Caregiver Resource Center, Orange County, NY

"The Caregiver Resource Center is a "one stop" service point addressing problems facing caregivers by offering information, training and support to caregivers of the elderly. The center works closely with other County and non-profit agencies to make the service network more accessible and responsive to caregivers." Provides listings of local caregiver support groups and meetings.

Family Caregiver Alliance

"Founded in the late 1970s, Family Caregiver Alliance is the first community-based nonprofit organization in the country to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care for loved ones at home...The services, education programs, and resources FCA provides are designed with caregivers' needs in mind and offer support, tailored information, and tools to manage the complex demands of caregiving."

Caregiver's Guide to Understanding Dementia Behaviors

"This fact sheet provides some practical strategies for dealing with the troubling behavior problems and communication difficulties often encountered when caring for a person with dementia." Topics include: Ten Tips for Communicating with a Person with Dementia; Handllng Troubling Behavior; Wandering; Incontinence; Agitation; Repetitive Speech or Actions (Perseveration); Paranoia; Sleeplessness/Sundowning; Eating/Nutrition; Bathing; Additional Problem Areas. Also includes a list of Resources and FCA Fact Sheets. From the Family Caregiver Alliance.

Dementia, Caregiving, and Controlling Frustation

From the Family Caregiver Alliance.

Ten Real-Life Strategies for Dementia Caregiving

From the Family Caregiver Alliance.

Hudson Valley Alzheimer's Chapter

The New York Elder Caregiver Support Program

From the New York State Office of the Aging.

New York State Caregiving & Respite Coalition

"The New York State Caregiving & Respite Coalition, NYSCRC, is a partnership of dedicated organizations and individuals committed to supporting the millions of our state's family caregivers... Through training and education, we focus on increasing caregivers' access to respite resources."

Next Step in Care

"Provides easy-to-use guides to help family caregivers and health care providers work closely together to plan and implement safe and smooth transitions for chronically or seriously ill patients...Transitions are moves between care settings, for example, hospital to home or rehab facility, or the start or end of home care agency services." Guides and checklists are available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Russian.

NY Connects

Click on "Know What You Need" and do a keyword search using terms such as dementia or alzheimers and then add your zip code. From New York State.

RAISE Family Caregivers Act Now Law

Reliving Stress & Anxiety: Resources for Alzheimer's Caregivers

"This resource list offers a selection of articles, books, and other materials that may help caregivers cope with their own stress, anxiety, and emotions. Some resources on this list are free; others must be purchased. To buy an item, please contact the publisher to confirm price and payment information. Many items are also available from traditional and online bookstores.' From the National Institute on Aging.

Tech Solutions That Make Life Easier for Dementia Care

From AARP.org.

To Manage Dementia Well, Start with the Caregivers

An article about the Program for Positive Aging and the DICE approach. From NPR.org.

General





Hospitals



Health Insurance

See also:

• Health Care Reform - Affordable Care Act

Medical Schools



Organizations

Physicians / Doctors

All Conditions
(websites covering major health conditions)








AIDS & HIV
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome & Human Immunodeficiency Virus







Allergies







Alzheimers







Arthritis







Asthma







Autism







Babesiosis







Breast Cancer









Cancer







Cardiovascular & Heart Disease







Common Cold







Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)







Depression







Diabetes







Eating Disorders






Food Poisoning (Foodborne Germs, Illnesses)






Frostbite and Hypothermia





Genetic Conditions & Genetics







Hearing Disorders








Indigestion / Dyspepsia / Upset Stomach









Infectious Diseases







Influenza (Flu) - Seasonal and Pandemic







Leukemia







Lung Cancer







Lyme Disease







Multiple Sclerosis







Muscular Dystrophy & ALS







Obesity - Adult, Childhood, Teen Obesity, Overweight Issues







Parkinson's Disease







Poison Ivy







Pregnancy & Childbirth



Vision Disorders & Eye Care

Epidemiology & Epidemics - General Information & Overviews
Pandemics / Outbreaks

Health & Wellness Blogs








General








Fitness










Mental Health










Nutrition










Regenerative Medicine








Children's and Teen's Health








Men's Health








Seniors' Health & Aging










Women's Health

The American Influenza Epidemic of 1918 - 1919: A Digital Encyclopedia

"This project, which was launched in 2012, was an undertaking by the Center for the History of Medicine to create an original, open access digital collection of archival, primary, and interpretive materials related to the history of the 1918 influenza pandemic in the United States. This virtual collection includes approximately 50,000 pages of original materials that document the experiences of diverse communities in the United States in fall 1918 and winter 1919 when influenza took the lives of approximately 675,000 Americans." From the University of Michigan's Center for the History of Medicine.

Contagion: Historical Views of Diseases and Epidemics

"This online collection offers important historical perspectives on the science and public policy of epidemiology today and contributes to the understanding of the global, social-history, and public-policy implications of diseases." From Harvard University Library.

Cushing / Whitney Medical Library

Includes Medical Instruments and Artifacts, Historical Medical Poster Collection, and more. From Yale University.

The MacKinney Collection of Medieval Medical Illustrations

From University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Libraries.

Medical Heritage Library

"The Medical Heritage Library (MHL), a digital curation collaborative among some of the world's leading medical libraries, promotes free and open access to quality historical resources in medicine. Our goal is to provide the means by which readers and scholars across a multitude of disciplines can examine the interrelated nature of medicine and society, both to inform contemporary medicine and strengthen understanding of the world in which we live. The MHL's growing collection of digitized medical rare books, pamphlets, journals, and films number in the tens of thousands, with representative works from each of the past six centuries, all of which are available here through the Internet Archive."

From the National Library of Medicine's Digital Projects:

Cholera Online

"The National Library of Medicine has digitized 518 English language monographs dating from 1817 to 1900 dealing with the cholera pandemics of that period."

Films and Videos

Includes: The Public Health Film Goes to War ("a curated collection of World War II-era health films") and more. Scroll down NLM's page for their Digital Collections of videos.

Greek Medicine

"Many foundations of modern Western medicine lie in Classical Greece, from about 800 B.C.E. to about 200 C.E."

Historical Anatomies on the Web

"Historical Anatomies on the Web is a digital project designed to give Internet users access to high quality images from important anatomical atlases in the Library's collection. The project offers selected images from NLM's atlas collection, not the entire books, with an emphasis on images and not texts. Atlases and images are selected primarily for their historical and artistic significance, with priority placed upon the earliest and/or the best edition of a work in NLM's possession."

Images from the History of Medicine

"Images from the History of Medicine (IHM) provides access to over 70,000 images in the collections of the History of Medicine Division (HMD) of the U.S National Library of Medicine (NLM). The collection includes portraits, photographs, caricatures, genre scenes, posters, and graphic art illustrating the social and historical aspects of medicine dated from the 15th to 21st century."

Images From the History of the Public Health Service

Medicine in the Americas 1610-1920

"Medicine in the Americas 1610-1920 features American medical books made possible in part through NLM's participation in the Medical Heritage Library, a digital curation collaborative among the world's leading medical libraries."

Pick Your Poison

"Mind-altering drugs have been used throughout the history of America. While some remain socially acceptable, others are outlawed because of their toxic, and intoxicating, characteristics. These classifications have shifted at different times in history, and will continue to change."

Shakespeare and the Four Humors

"The language of the four humors pervades William Shakespeare's plays, and their influence is felt above all in a belief that emotional states are physically determined."

Turning The Pages

Includes the Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus, Elizabeth Blackwell's A Curious Herbal, Andrew Snape's Anatomy of an Horse, al-Qazwini's Wonders of Creation, Hanaoka Seishu's Surgical Casebook, Robert Hooke's Micrographia, and more.

Nursing, History and Health Care

"This unique site serves as a source of historical background information on issues regarding the nursing profession and the provision of nursing care. It addresses a wide range of topics critical to comprehending and broadening our understanding of health care and nursing concerns, including the role of professional nurses, nurse shortages, workplace problems and public health issues. This site aims to provide access to information that can be used by practitioners, researchers, educators, policymakers and consumers of health care to gain perspective on health care issues in general and nursing in particular by developing the historical context in which nursing developed as a profession and an occupation and also to increase awareness of the nursing profession's contributions to health care in the United States." From the University of Pennsylvania's School of Nursing.

Project Gutenberg: Medicine Bookshelf

Contains eBooks of various historical works (e.g. Notes on Nursing - Florence Nightingale), the medicine of antiquity, and more.

Wellcome Library: Codebreakers - Makers of Modern Genetics

"An online research resource for the history of genetics, including digitised books and archives from the Wellcome Library and partner institutions."

U.S. National Library of Medicine: Digital Collections

"Digital Collections is the National Library of Medicine's free online repository of biomedical resources including books, manuscripts, still images, videos, and maps. The content in Digital Collections is freely available worldwide and, unless otherwise indicated, in the public domain. Digital Collections provides unique access to NLM's rich historical resources, as well as select modern resources."

Wellcome Images

"Wellcome Images is one of the world's richest and most unique collections, with themes ranging from medical and social history to contemporary healthcare and biomedical science. Whether it's medicine or magic, the sacred or the profane, science or satire - you'll find more than you expect. This unrivalled collection contains historical images from the Wellcome Library collections, Tibetan Buddhist paintings, ancient Sanskrit manuscripts written on palm leaves, beautifully illuminated Persian books and much more. The Biomedical Collection holds over 40,000 high-quality images from the clinical and biomedical sciences. Selected from the UK's leading teaching hospitals and research institutions, it covers disease, surgery, general healthcare, sciences from genetics to neuroscience including the full range of imaging techniques."

Women Physicians 1850s-1970s

"This collection consists of correspondence, scrapbooks, clippings, college records, images, diaries, publications and ephemera documenting the history of women physicians beginning with the first medical school for women, Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania (WMCP). Founded in 1850, WMCP trained thousands of women physicians who practiced in all parts of the world, and provided rare opportunities for women to teach, practice, perform research and manage a medical school. WMCP was also a long time refuge for women students and faculty who faced quotas and discrimination elsewhere. The materials are divided into five subject areas: The early years of the college, 1850-1870; Student life, academic life and student culture, 1870-1920; Racial and ethnic diversity among women physicians, 1867 to 1960; Missionary and public health work, at home and abroad, 1890-1960; Medical women in the military, 1863-1945." From Drexel University's College of Medicine.

Guide to Diagnostic Tests

"What do you have to do to prepare for a MRI? Will having a liver biopsy be painful? Will I need to do anything special afterward? How soon will it be safe to go home after a cardiac catheterization and what are the risks? How soon will the results of that antibody test be back? " Answers from Harvard Medical School

Lab Tests Online

A thorough online reference guide to tests prescribed by doctors for health assessment.

Medline Plus: Diagnostic Tests

Directory of tests covered in Medlines Health Topics. Each entry includes links to authoritative information.

Medline Plus: Laboratory Tests

Laboratory tests check a sample of your blood, urine or body tissues. This directory from the National Institute of Health contains links to information on laboratory tests.

Health & Wellness News Sources & Headlines


Journals

Drugs & Pharmaceuticals - General Information

Drugs.com

A web site for drug information arranged alphabetically or by drug category. Also searchable by brand and by medical condition. Includes pill identification feature for finding a drug by its appearance.

From FDA:

Drug Approvals and Databases

Approved Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS), Bioresearch Monitoring Information System (BMIS), Clinical Investigator Inspection List (CLIIL), Dissolution Methods Database, Drug Establishments Current Registration, Drug Safety Labeling Changes (SLC), Drug Shortages, Drugs@FDA Search, FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), National Drug Code Directory Search, Orange Book (Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations), Postmarket Requirements and Commitments Search, Wholesale Distributor and Third-Party Logistics Providers Reporting.

Drug Information Portal

Includes drug category names, results, descriptions. Search "by name" or "by category." Also includes top dispensed prescriptions in the US Market, common drug names list, generic name stems list, and more.

FDA: Drugs

Reports on all the prescription and over-the-counter medications regulated by this government agency.

FDA: Find Information about a Drug

A guide for finding information on drugs / medicine / medication at the FDA website.

Herbs at a Glance

"Herbs at a Glance is a series of fact sheets that provides basic information about specific herbs or botanicals - common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information." From National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), National Institutes of Health.

Medline Plus Drug Information

From the National Library of Medicine this is an extensive database of over 9,000 prescription medications.

NeedyMeds

Provides information on Patient Assistance Programs offered by drug manufacturers to help patients get their medicines either for free or at a lower cost. Also includes a searchable list of free clinics.

Pillbox

Identify prescription and over-the-counter medications by appearance and ingredients. From the National Library of Medicine.

Prescription Drug Prices in New York State

By entering a drug name and a location in New York, you can compare recent prices for that prescription. From the New York State Department of Health.

Free and Low Cost Prescription Medication Programs

Financial Help for Diabetes Care

From The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Insulin Help

Links to resources that help pay for insulin. From the American Diabetes Association.

Medicine Assistance Tool (MAT)

MAT builds upon the Partnership for Prescription Assistance to provide a single point of access to public and private assistance programs and more transparent information about medication costs.

NeedyMeds

"NeedyMeds is a national non-profit organization that maintains a website of free information on programs that help people who can't afford medications and healthcare costs."

Pharmaceutical Assistance Program

Assistance programs sponsored by drug manufacturers. Listed by drug name. From Medicare.gov.

RxAssist

"Patient assistance programs are run by pharmaceutical companies to provide free medications to people who cannot afford to buy their medicine. RxAssist offers a comprehensive database of these patient assistance programs, as well as practical tools, news, and articles so that health care professionals and patients can find the information they need. All in one place."

RxHope

"RxHope is exactly what its name implies...a helping hand to people in need in obtaining critical medications that they would normally have trouble affording. We act as your advocate in making the patient assistance program journey easier and faster by supplying vital information and help."

SSA: Understanding the Extra Help with Your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan

This PDF document explains the Extra Help Plan provided by Social Security to qualified participants.

HealthGrades

Described as a "health care ratings organization providing ratings and profiles of hospitals, nursing homes and physicians to consumers, corporations, health plans and hospitals."

Hospitals

Health Insurance Plans

Physicians / Doctors / Specialists

Diagnosis Dictionary

Mental health and popular psychological terms, definitions of personality disorders and diseases. Browse alphabetically, by disorder, or by topic. From Psychology Today.

KidsHealth: A Glossary of Medical Words

"Symptoms, inhaler, tonsillectomy - what do all those medical words mean? Check out our virtual glossary for lots of easy-to-read definitions."

Medical Dictionary of Health Terms

Browse by first letter of word/phrase. From Harvard Medical School.

Medical Encyclopedia from Medline

Searchable online medical encyclopedia. Search box appears in top right corner.

Merck Manual Home Edition

Popular medical reference handbook.

Merriam Webster Medical Dictionary

Understanding Medical Words: A Tutorial from the National Library of Medicine

"This tutorial teaches you about medical words. You'll learn about how to put together parts of medical words. You'll also find quizzes to see what you've learned." Adobe Flash required.

Bioethics - Medical Ethics and Issues






Blood Donors, Blood Donations, & Bone Marrow






Calculators






Health Apps






Consumer Health






Dentistry






Disabilities






Environmental Health






First Aid






Genetics






Health Care Reform Affordable Care Act Resources

See also:

• Health Insurance

Health Law






Medical Malpractice







Nursing






Occupational Health






Patients






Podcasts






Public Health






Sports Medicine