Bookmark at least the following top 5 websites. These sites offer the best access when searching for general medical information. These sites are a great way to start, but they may not be the best for your practice. For example, if you specialize in nursing home cases, you will need to access more specific websites.

eMedicine.com, Inc. World Medical Library

http://www.emedicine.com

National Library of Medicine

http://www.nlm.nih.gov

 National Guideline Clearinghouse

http://www.guideline.gov/

Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience Database (MAUDE)

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/maude.html

MD Consult 

http://www.MDConsult.com

Additional sites for medical research (in alphabetical order):

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

http://www.ahcpr.gov

Links to clinical information, current clinical research and other links for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

American Medical Directors Association

http://www.amda.com

Links to AMDA's publications and products, news releases and resource library. Specific sections address the interests of medical directors and physicians who practice in long-term care.

Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General

http://exclusions.oig.hhs.gov/

Allows you to check on the exclusion status of a healthcare provider or facility. Contains the list of sanctions and definitions of exclusions for Medicare fraud and other sanctions.

eMedicine.com, Inc. World Medical Library

http://www.emedicine.com

Contains peer-reviewed online medical textbooks. Physicians continually update and revise this site. The standard format for each disease or condition includes diagnosis and treatment, differential diagnoses, and a list of additional references.

Federation of State Medical Boards

http://www.fsmb.org

Contains a databank of board actions and physician disciplinary actions. Includes links to state medical boards.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfropic/topicindex/topindx.cfm   Helps you investigate concerns about products in the FDA database.

Health Medicine refdesk.com

http://www.refdesk.com/health.html

Contains an alphabetical list of health and disease-related links useful as a starting point for

finding medical literature and other sites.

The Health Pages

http://thehealthpages.com

Allows you to search for a physician by name and state or by specialty practice. This site has more current contact information than other physician directory sites, particularly telephone numbers. Links to state medical boards offering physician discipline information, as well as reports on physicians and facilities, are planned for this site.

Healthcare Financing Administration

http://www.hcfa.gov/search

Links to Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP and other federal search resources.

Hippocrates Magazine

http://www.hippocrates.com

Contains clinical updates in primary care and practice management with access to archives

and search features.

Johns Hopkins Division of Infectious Diseases Antibiotic Guide

http://www.hoDkins-abxguide.org

Provides information about infectious diseases and antibiotics. The site requires registration (free).

Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience Database (MAUDE)

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/maude.html

Links to reports of product and device failure and other information.

MD Consult

http://www.lvlDConsult.com

Allows you to search many leading texts and reference books, a wide variety of peer-reviewed journals, plus clinical guidelines, patient teaching guidelines and drug information. This subscription site offers a free trial period to new users.

MDLinx.com

http://www.MDLinx.com

Contains links to 40 medical specialty websites for the latest developments and access to top journals. Also offers an email subscription service to alert you to news in specialties you select.

MedBioWorld

http://www.sciencekomm.at/joumals/medicine/med-bio.html

Contains links to publishers of medical and nursing journals in all fields and a complete list of all available journals worldwide.

Medical Matrix

http://www.medmatrix.org

Provides online resources for a variety of journals, texts, diseases and medical conditions.

Merck Manuals Online

http://www.merck.com/pubs/

Contains links to search the Merck Manual of Medical Information, Merck Manual of Geriatrics, and Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy.

National Council Nurse Practice Acts and Regulations

http://www.ncsbn.org/public/regulation/nursing_practice acts, htm

Links to most U.S. nurse practice acts, regulations and state boards of nursing.

National Guideline Clearinghouse

http://www.guideline.gov/

Database of published guidelines searchable by medical topic or professional organization.

National Library of Medicine

http://www.nlm.nih.gov

Promotes awareness of the latest, most effective medical and scientific toxicology, environmental health and basic biomedical   research. Allows you to access numerous websites, such as Pubmed, GratefulMed, Medline, Toxline and many more.

Surgical-Medical-New Terms Glossary

http://www.mtdesk.com

Offers the most complete list of medical products, devices and Pharmaceuticals, with links to manufacturers' websites and Food and Drug Administration information on the product. This informational site is updated weekly.

For more specific websites:

Cardiology

American College of Cardiology

Guidelines, clinical statements, news and continuing education.

General References/Resources

National Quality Forum

Developed to implement a national strategy for healthcare quality measurement and reporting.

Government Resources

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Healthcare research that helps the American healthcare system provide access to high-quality, cost-effective services.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Disease prevention and health information from A to Z, health statistics reports and publications, CDC health data standards and current health news.

Guidelines

National Guideline Clearinghouse

Extensive collection of clinical practice guidelines and evidence-based medicine

Healthcare Regulatory Compliance

The Joint Commission

Official site for healthcare accreditation.

Hospice

Center to Advance Palliative Care

Palliative care tools, training and technical assistance.

Hospice Foundation of America

Developed to help those who cope personally or professionally with terminal illness, deatl and the process of grief and bereavement.

Nursing - Associations

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses

Provides clinical resources, journals, education and certification information for the critics care nurse.

American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
Standards, education, links and publications.

Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)
Education, research, links, journal and standards.

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society

Organization devoted to wound care; contains numerous links, publications and reference

Pharmacology

Epocrates

The world's most widely used mobile medical references. Surgical

CMS - Surgical Care Improvement Project
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Vascular Surgery

Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Information and references for thoracic surgeons.

Wound Care

National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel

The authoritative voice for improved patient outcomes in pressure ulcer prevention and treatment through public policy, education and research.