Consumer access to medical information is also easier than ever. Since the first medical websites emerged in the late 1990s, people have flocked to them in skyrocketing numbers. Today, an estimated 80 percent of Americans go online to search for health information. Around the world, anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can tap into online information about various diseases and conditions, and learn about the medications and other treatments commonly prescribed to combat them.

Still, most health sites, while informative, can’t diagnose or treat you. They’re the online equivalent of a medical library, except they’re available with a few mouse clicks. People often type in their symptoms – or in many cases, those of their child – from their homes, offices and even mobile devices to find out what might be ailing them.

But today, consumers can get a lot more than just health information from online resources. A new breed of “online clinics” connects customers directly with experienced practitioners who can treat them safely – and very conveniently – wherever they are.

People who live in Minnesota and Wisconsin, for example, have access to virtuwell.com, whose board-certified nurse practitioners offer professional health care anytime – days, nights and weekends, 365 days a year. The service is available to anyone, including children over age two.

“Consumers are embracing innovations that make quality health care more convenient,” said Kevin Palattao, vice president of virtuwell, founded by the large Minnesota nonprofit health care organization, HealthPartners. “We provide Minnesotans and Wisconsinites with personalized diagnoses, treatment plans, and even prescriptions if needed. It takes less than a half-hour, and it’s all online.”

Virtuwell treats most common medical conditions, including acne, bladder infections, yeast infections, colds, coughs, allergies, flu, lice, pink eye, sinus infections, and rashes and other skin irritations. The process includes a thorough medical interview, and in some cases, a user-submitted picture as well. And consumers can connect immediately with a nurse practitioner about their case by phone at any time, day or night.

With no appointment needed and 24-hour online access, people can rely on virtual clinics whenever illness occurs. So far, thousands have.

“Say you realize you have a bladder infection at 3 a.m. on a Saturday. By just going online, you can have a professional virtually by your side, providing the answers you want immediately,” Palattao says. “Customers tell us again and again that we’re making a real difference in their busy lives. And with people paying more health care costs from their own pockets, the savings are very welcome, too”

People often get sick while traveling. However, they don’t need to be at home to get help from virtuwell. Minnesota and Wisconsin residents can even have prescriptions called into a nearby pharmacy if they’re outside their home state. And follow-up care, if needed, is provided at no extra charge.

How it works
* Visit virtuwell.com to take a quick online interview.
* Get a diagnosis and a treatment plan from a nurse practitioner, along with a prescription sent to your pharmacy (if needed).
* If symptoms indicate a more severe condition, referrals to appropriate in-person care are always free.

The post Simple Diagnosis, Treatment and Prescriptions Now a Click Away first appeared on The How Do Gardener.

Erase some of frustration involved in finding the perfect gift and enjoy the holiday of love and romance with these great Valentine’s gift-giving tips:

* Want to take a unique route but lack a good idea? Start searching for ideas online. Traditional gifts can be altered slightly with gifts that incorporate jewels, chocolate or flowers in an unusual setting. For example, a bouquet of chocolate-covered strawberries designed to look like a bouquet of roses, puts a unique twist on several of the more popular gifting items.

Or deviate completely from the traditional and look for gifts your loved ones would appreciate, but never expect for Valentine’s Day. Use your computer to help you find great gift ideas for others on your Valentine’s Day shopping list like your grandma and best friends. Use search terms like “gifts for grandma” and “Valentine’s gifts for friends” to help find ideas.

* If you have an idea in mind, find product reviews and recommendations from experts and savvy shoppers with a few quick online searches. Use forums like FatWallet to read reviews on products ranging from electronics to travel. This way not only will you be able to confirm that your idea is a great one, but also ensure you find the best prices, and the best retailer for that product.

* Don’t forget to search for coupons and deals to maximize your savings. Use Ebates.com to purchase the gifts for everyone on your list and earn cash back on every purchase through thousands of retailers. For example, if you choose to go the traditional route and order your girlfriend a beautiful bouquet of flowers from FTD, you can earn 20 percent cash back from your purchase, on top of any discount coupons available on Ebates.com. Keep that extra cash back handy to make your Valentine’s Day celebration even more special.

Many retailers provide free shipping or delivery, and you may discover you can stack deals, allowing you to save plenty of money this Valentine’s Day and helping to ease your gift shopping frustrations.

Celebrate the holiday of love and romance this year in style with great gifts for your loved ones. Go online, gather great and unique ideas and don’t forget to save while shopping.

The post Valentine's Day Gift-Giving Tips first appeared on The How Do Gardener.

While many consumers are familiar with shopping online, it’s still important to take some necessary precautions to protect your privacy, according to FindLaw.com, the Internet’s leading online source for legal information, and to ensure that what you buy arrives before Santa does.

Here are seven tips from FindLaw.com about shopping online this holiday season:

Shop Early and Save
The best way to avoid the holiday shopping rush, even online, is to shop early. This may sound crazy, but write up a holiday shopping list as early as possible – and start shopping right away – months before the holiday season begins. You’ll not only find more bargains (reducing your overall holiday expenses), but you’ll spread out your shopping so you won’t face a major credit card bill in early January. Plus, you’ll know that your holiday gifts will be there on time, which will allow you to avoid holiday stress.

Shop Reputable Online Retailers
Shopping online with major retailers such as Walmart, Sears, Target, Barnes & Noble and Amazon poses little risk. Organizations such as eBay, Yahoo Shopping and Bing Shopping make some effort to check out and rate merchants who do business through their sites. If you’re shopping with a lesser-known retailer, look for reviews and ratings on Google about the retailer before shopping.

Secure Site
When you place your order, make sure the site where you’re entering your credit card or PayPal information is secure. Here are a couple ways to tell: Look in the Web address bar. If there’s an “s” after “http” and a closed padlock icon to the right of the browser address, the site is secure.

Privacy Policy
Most consumers ignore or overlook a vendor’s privacy policy. A privacy policy states what the vendor will do to safeguard your credit card and personal information. If you don’t see a privacy policy on the vendor’s website, or you don’t like what it says, shop elsewhere.

Return Policies
Regardless of whether you’re shopping for a holiday gift online or from a catalog, make sure you understand the retailer’s return policy. Because you’re buying an item that you can’t see or touch, and because it’s being transported, the product you buy online may not meet your expectations. Make sure you know if and how an online retailer handles returns and exchanges.

Keep your Receipts
When you buy a product online, print out the receipt at the time you’re ordering the product. Save it and make sure to compare it to the receipt that comes with the product when it is delivered to your home or office to ensure that you received everything you ordered, and that you were correctly invoiced.

Coffee Shops and Airports
Many people like to head to their local coffee shop and peruse the Internet on the shop’s free Wi-Fi. What many may not realize is that person sitting next to you sipping a double latte may actually be a hacker attempting to capture your personal data. As tempting as it is, never shop while using a public Wi-Fi network at the coffee shop or in the airport, and never leave your computer unattended, even for a quick trip to the bathroom.

The post Safeguard your Privacy while Shopping Online first appeared on The How Do Gardener.