Posted on January 22, 2004 at 11:56 a.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Patient-friendly websites run by UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) have won gold and bronze medals from the National Health Information Awards program, organized by the Health Information Resource Center. Now in their 10th year, the World Wide Web Health Awards are designed to establish a seal of quality for consumer health information.

UAB’s “Tone Your Bones” osteoporosis site, (www.uab.edu/shp/toneyourbones/), won a gold medal in the Hospital/Healthcare System category. UAB’s “Dear Doctor” question and answer column received a bronze medal in that category.

The “Tone Your Bones” website, which went on-line less than a year ago, is a component of UAB’s Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Clinic. The site walks patients thru a virtual clinic visit, and provides up-to-date information on ways to prevent, treat and minimize the effects of osteoporosis.

UAB's "Dear Doctors" column, published by the UAB Health System's Office of Medical Publications since 1985, has received numerous state and national awards for excellence in providing consumers reliable, up-to-date health and fitness information. "Dear Doctor" questions are submitted by readers and answers are provided by UAB Health System physicians and other health-care professionals.

The Health Information Resource Center is a national clearinghouse for consumer health programs and materials.