With many recent examples of web sites with poor breastfeeding information
being shared on Lactnet lately, maybe this program offers hope for a  means
to encourage more accuracy.  Although the accreditation program will
probably be voluntary, maybe it will require references, credentials,
sponsorship restrictions, etc. that will assure better information at
approved sites.  The article follows.

Barb Berges BS, RN, IBCLC
Rochester, New York


Committee to Develop Accreditation Program For Health Web Sites
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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Oct 2 - A Washington, DC-based organization better
known for accrediting managed care organizations is preparing to put its
stamp of approval on purveyors of e-health.

URAC announced on Thursday that it has appointed an advisory committee to
begin developing standards for accrediting health Web sites. Draft standards
will be tested and released for public comment in the coming months. Final
standards are expected to be completed by Spring 2001 for implementation
later that year.

With the proliferation of Internet-based health and medical portals,
advisory committee members see a need for some mechanism for gaining
consumers' trust. The 27-member committee will consider standards in a
variety of areas ranging from privacy and professionalism to candor and
accountability.

"Health and medical information on the Web has huge potential to benefit
patients and the public, but inaccurate and biased information and potential
breaches of patient privacy may cause more harm than good," stated Dr.
Margaret Winkler, deputy editor of the Journal of the American Medical
Association and a committee member. "We need to find ways to improve the
quality of medical information on the Web and give users the information
about Web sites they need to make an informed choice," she said.

The committee includes representatives of organizations that have already
developed ethical or quality guidelines for health Web sites, such as the
Internet Healthcare Coalition, Hi-Ethics and the American Medical
Association.

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