APPROACHING EQUITY IN CONSUMER HEALTH INFORMATION DELIVERY - NETWELLNESS

The growing public interest in health and wellness information stems f rom many sources, including social changes related to consumers' right s and women's health movements, and economic changes brought about by the managed health care revolution. Public, hospital, and medical cent er libraries have been ill-equipped to meet the increasing need for co nsumer-oriented materials, even though a few notable programs have bee n established. The ''information Superhighway'' could be an effective tool for sharing health information if access to telecomputing equipme nt and training were available to those with an information need. The University of Cincinnati Medical Center, with its Libraries in the lea ding role, is delivering NetWellness, an electronic consumer health li brary service, to residents of 29 counties in three midwestern states. Users connect directly through the Internet, through regional Free-Ne ts, and by visiting one of 43 public access sites where networked work stations have been installed. The continued success of the project dep ends on developing partnerships, providing quality content and maintai ning fair access.