The Internet can be an incredible source of information. It can also be an incredible source of misleading reports and instruction. There are tens of thousands of medical care sites at the click of your mouse, but proceed with caution. Anyone can set up a website. Here are some tips for finding reliable, accurate sites.

1. Know the source. You should be able to tell who, or what entity is sponsoring the site, and what credentials they have to do so. Look for clear disclosure on location, mission, and purpose.

2. Where does the information come from? Statements or articles should be attributed to an author, a medical journal or institution. Look for information on authors and sponsorship. If you can't confirm the source, you can't gauge the accuracy.

3. How current is the information? Check the bottom of articles and web pages. You can usually determine when the material was issued, and if it's been updated.

4. Does the site promote products? Browser beware. If a site is pitching products or cures, and uses words like "best", immediate results", "miracle", etc. use common sense.

5. Is the information balanced? Medical science is complex and never exact. The best sites provide comprehensive information in an objective manner.

There are a number of books that simplify the search for good health web sites. Here are two that are worth a look:

Healthcare Online for Dummies, by Howard and Judi Wolinsky Compiled in the same style as the entire "for dummies" series, this book goes way beyond diseases, covering health insurance, research, finding the best hospital and doctors, etc. It's a good navigational tool.

Dr. Ian Smith's Guide to Medical Websites by Ian K. Smith, M.D., the medical correspondent of the Today ShowThis is a no-frills, more condensed guide with a rating system for the sites based on their accuracy, ease of navigation, and overall appeal.