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Jill Osborne: (707)538-9442ICN Receives Highest Commendation For Medical Information on the Web
by the Medical Resource Reviews Database.Santa Rosa, CA -- October 10, 2000 - The Interstitial Cystitis Network (www.ic-network.com), a California based small business, was recognized for medical excellence and information on the web by Florida International Universitys High Performance Database Research Center, Division of Medical Informatics. Rated 4 out of 4, the ICN is now one of the highest rated urology sites on the web and clearly the leader of the cyber interstitial cystitis community.
The rating was developed by an average of the opinions of three staff MD reviewers, based on site comprehensiveness, clarity, layout and visibility on the Web. In presenting the listing on the web, the reviewers stated "One of the best values of this site is that it encourages patients to take action and get involved in work as an ambassador for the IC within their local communities. Working the media to do stories on IC and starting support groups are among the many activities this site encourages participation in. The ICN also teaches IC sufferers to be skeptical consumers and to learn as much as it possible including the pros and cons of any specific issue related to IC."
Jill Osborne, ICN Founder offers "It's a wonderful affirmation of the work of our volunteers who tirelessly search for new IC resources. They are one of the most creative and dynamic teams of patients in the world who, through perserverance and patience, have developed a world recognized urology web site."
The IC Network provides weekly live support groups, an extensive array of patient education materials, over one hundred dedicated IC message boards, chat rooms, research library, physician listings and frequent "Meet the IC Expert" guest lectures. Ms. Osborne continued "One of our goals is to unite patients and providers throughout the world, including a new collaboration with patient organizations in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada and others. In the next few years, we'll be working to nurture fledgling patient organizations in several new countries."
About the Interstitial Cystitis Network
Established in 1994, the IC Network web site was created by IC patient and Northern California support group leader Jill Osborne. After developing IC at the age of 33 in 1993, she became a support group leader in California. Her goal in starting the web site was to deliver critical support and information to patients who were too ill to attend meetings. One of the first health sites created on the internet, the ICN has stepped beyond the role of support to providing the largest free archive of IC related resources and on-line events in the world, including distinguished guest speakers. The ICN has served more than 600,000 patients and medical care providers in 69 countries in the past few years.
What is Interstitial Cystitis?
Interstitial cystitis (IC), one of the chronic pelvic pain disorders, is a condition resulting in recurring , often disabling, pain in the bladder and the surrounding pelvic region. The symptoms of IC vary from case to case. People may experience mild discomfort, pressure, tenderness, or intense pain in the bladder and surrounding pelvic area. Symptoms may include an urgent need to urinate (urgency), frequent need to (frequency), or a combination of these symptoms. Pain may change in intensity as the bladder fills with urine or as it empties. Of the more than 700,000 Americans estimated to have IC, 90 percent are women. These patients may be unable to work, unable to sex comfortably. 50% are unable to drive in a car comfortably.
More information on IC can be found at: http://www.ic-network.com.
An on-line press tour is available at: http://www.ic-network.com/tour/