Frequently Asked Questions
- Who manages the ICN website?
- How is the ICN funded?
- How did IC activities first begin on the Internet?
- What is the goal of the ICN website?
- Is the ICN affiliated with the ICA?
- Does the ICN offer medical advice?
- What message do you want visitors to remember after they visit the ICN?
- Who writes the IC Network materials?
Who manages the IC Network?
The ICN is owned and managed by Jill Osborne with help by an exceptional team of ICN staff and volunteers. Within three months of her diagnosis of IC in 1993, Jill become a volunteer IC support group leader for the ICA. She ventured online in 1994 to create resources for patients who were too ill to attend meetings or who didn't have a support group near them. She founded the IC Network in 1995. In March 2006, the IC Network continues to be the largest provider of IC information and support in the world, serving more than 300,000 patients a month. Jill has a B.A. in Pharmacology and an M.A. in Psychology. She lives in the Valley of the Moon, Sonoma County, California. Read her story!How is this site funded?
In May 1998, the ICN became an "on-line medical publishing site" in the State of California. In December 2004, it was incorporated and is a division of J.H. Osborne, Inc. The Interstitial Cystitis Network is supported by generous corporate sponsors, subscriptions for our quarterly IC Optimist newsletter and from the proceeds of the ICN Shop!How did IC activities first begin on the Internet?
In 1994, the support group leaders of IC-Redwood Empire (a California based IC support group) were looking for a method to bring support to members who could not come to meetings because of illness or work. Jill Osborne, founder & co-leader of ICRE, joined both Compuserve and AOL to search for other patients. Shortly thereafter, she moderated the first ever on-line bladder disease support groups (on AOL) for IC patients, paraplegics, quadriplegics and prostate patients, exploring the effectiveness of on-line message boards and live support chats.In just a year (back in the days when AOL was very expensive), she asked for help. Another (now former) co-leader of ICRE, Nancy (Jewel), joined the AOL effort and began the first "IC only" message board in January of 1995. She and Jill jointly facilitated the first live meetings and message boards. In 1995, the IC Network was created to offer a large clearinghouse for IC information.
What is the goal of the IC Network?
The ICN strives to be the best "patient led" medical publishing sites on IC. Our goal is to provide valuable and timely information and support resource not only for patients, but for physicians and researchers who are working to further the IC cause.Is the IC Network affiliated with the ICA?
The answer is "no." The ICN, however, strives to be politically neutral and offers listings for all international IC support organizations.Does the IC Network offer medical advice?
Absolutely not. Please review our DISCLAIMER. Gathering health information on the web should be done with care. Always remember that no on-line information source should provide you with personal medical advice. Only your personal medical care provider can do this. Read more about Internet Consumer Safety & AwarenessWhat is the message of the ICN?
Current IC research is providing dramatic new developments in IC knowledge and treatment strategies. Every day, we get closer to the cure and, until that happens, there are very effective treatment and self-help strategies worth exploring. We hope to encourage patients to be involved in their medical care. We hope to teach patients how to be responsible consumers of health information on the web.Who writes the IC Network materials?
The IC Networks work with IC researchers, physicians and professional medical writers to develop content for our website and newsletters.
Revised: March 22, 2006
The Interstitial Cystitis Network
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