Mission:
To commit to excellence, innovation, and caring in health care, education, and research.

Background:
Established in 1981 and affiliated with the Sutter Health nonprofit healthcare network serving Northern California, the Palo Alto Medical Foundation for Health Care, Research, and Education (PAMF) focuses on the multi-specialty group practice of medicine and outpatient medicine. The Web site was developed by PAMF staff to provide medically accurate information to patients and the general public in a format that is easy to understand but not oversimplified. Teams of clinical experts create and review all information before it is posted, and clinical staffers work with local teenagers to create content for the pages targeting their age group.

Outstanding Web Feature:
Filled with resources for medical consumers, the PAMF Web site provides information on such topics as children's, men's, or women's health, food and nutrition, tests and procedures, and wellness; a guide to health insurance; health maintenance guidelines for different age groups; and sections specially created for teens and preteens. For current and potential patients, the Web site offers a physician directory, searchable by department, clinic location, gender, and language preference; frequently asked questions about the directory; and details on educational programs that promote wellness, many of which are free to the community.