UW Medicine
Health Online

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How to Use Health Online

To help you determine if a resource is useful for your targeted patient or patient group, each one is annotated with an abstract and index terms. Search fields include:

  • Specific and General Subject Index Terms
  • Title and Abstract
  • Department
  • Author and Publisher
  • Language

Four ways to search the database

  1. Quick Search 
    This broad search option allows you to search on a single word or topic within the title, abstract, or list of specific keywords and general subject terms. Only materials that are available to be printed will be listed in your search results.
  2. General Topic Search 
    Search through one of the general topic/subject terms. Each resource is indexed using up to three general topic categories. Only materials that are available to be printed will be listed in your search results.
  3. Advanced Search
    This search option allows you to use the linking words "AND" and "OR" between search terms to create a query that joins terms that include one or all of these: Title, author, abstract, publisher, specific subject, general topic, call number, date published, resource location, language, format and/or audience. Advanced Search will also provide you the option to include citations for Non UWMC-authored handouts. Since these handouts are not available to be printed out, you will be given information about how to order single photocopies from PFES when selecting “Full Record” on the search results page.
  4. Specific Subject Search (located on the Advanced Search page)
    This specific subject search utilizes a scrolling list of alphabetically arranged index terms to yield specific search results. Descriptive subject terms are assigned to each listing in the database, so you can identify all patient teaching resources available on a specific disease.

Viewing and Printing

Handouts can be viewed and printed at most workstations where there is access to UW Intranet (please check with your computer support person). Double click the language of your choice on the Search Results screen to load the document on your screen. This will open your Adobe Reader program. (If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, on-screen instructions will direct you to the Adobe Web page for a free download. Also, please see the instructions below.) With the document loaded on your screen, you can read it or print it at your workstation. You may print as many or as few of the pages as desired, using the file/print command.

Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free program from Adobe Systems Inc. that is used to view handouts. This is a two-phase process: (1) download the program from the Web site to your computer and then (2) install this program on your computer. Follow the instructions below.

  1. Print these instructions for your later use, then follow the instructions below.
  2. Click on www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html
  3. Follow the 1-2-3 step instructions on the screen.
  4. When asked where to save the document, select or create a directory on your hard drive (you can create a new directory from the "Save As" box that will appear on the screen).
  5. Proceed with the download as prompted.
  6. When complete, go to your Windows Explorer (locate it on the Start/Program menu, usually near the bottom of the list).
  7. Locate the directory into which you downloaded the Adobe Acrobat Reader program. Note: Click on the "plus" boxes in front of the directory names or double click the directories until you can locate the program file named ar60eng.exe.
  8. Double click on this file. This will activate the program and it will install on your computer. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the process. If you have any trouble, contact your administrator.
  9. Return to Health Online and select the document you want to access. The Adobe Reader will automatically open to allow viewing and printing.