Reliable health information on the go

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Here’s a great example of your tax dollars at work (seriously): a new version of MedlinePlus built to fit your mobile phone.

In case you’ve never visited this handy site -- a co-production of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health -- it contains reliable information on 800 health topics. It also includes a medical encyclopedia, information on drugs and supplements, a dictionary of medical terms, and health news, among other goodies.

The mobile version has all that info neatly packed so that it’s easy to see on a smaller screen. Imagine how handy it will be to look up the side effects of a medication while you’re in the drugstore contemplating a purchase.

Or, if you’re cooling your heels in an exam room waiting for your physician to arrive, you can peruse the “Talking With Your Doctor” section to make the most of your visit.

The mobile site has information in English and Spanish. You can find it at http://m.medlineplus.gov.

-- Karen Kaplan