APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DIRECTING INTERNET USERS TO HEALTH CARE INFORMATION

A method of directing a patient to a source of health care information. The method comprises placing on a prescription sheet an address for the Internet web site, identifying an ailment of the patient and ascertaining an ICD or CPT code associated with the ailment. A key word or an ICD or CPT code associated with the ailment is placed on the prescription sheet and the sheet is given to the patient. The patient is instructed to input the key word or ICD or CPT code into a computer communicating with an Internet web site to obtain information about the ailment. The Internet web site and computer are configured in such a manner that the input of the key word or ICD or CPT code into the computer results in retrieval via the Internet web site of information about the ailment. Further navigation of the information within the database by the patient is made specific for that particular disease at that particular stage in its course through assigning a hierarchical system of priorities based upon the makeup of the ICD and or CPT codes contained within each segment of information.