PRO-SCIENCE
These sources consist of legitimate science or are evidence-based through credible scientific sourcing. Legitimate science follows the scientific method, is unbiased, and does not use emotional words. These sources also respect the consensus of experts in the given scientific field and strive to publish peer-reviewed science. Some sources in this category may have a slight political bias but adhere to scientific principles. See all Pro-Science sources.
- Overall, we rate HealthCentral as a Pro-Science Source based on proper scientific sourcing and a clean fact-check record.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: PRO-SCIENCE
Factual Reporting: HIGH
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
HealthCentral is a health and wellness website that provides information on various medical conditions, health management, and wellness tips. It aims to empower people to improve their health and well-being through in-depth, medically reviewed content—HealthCentral covers various health topics, from chronic disease management to mental health.
The parent company, HealthCentral Corporation, operates several digital health platforms, such as MedCentral, TheBody, TheBodyPro, OBROncology, and Patient Power. These brands cater to specific medical fields and patient communities, offering medically reviewed information and fostering patient empowerment through education and community support. The company, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is led by Steve Zatz, former CEO of WebMD.
Read our profile on the United States media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
HealthCentral Corporation, previously known as Remedy Health Media, owns HealthCentral, which is owned by Amulet Capital Partners.
Ramsey Frank, Jay Rose, and Ari Benacerraf are the founders of Amulet Capital Partners. HealthCentral’s funding primarily comes from advertising, sponsored content, and partnerships with healthcare organizations.
Analysis / Bias
HealthCentral provides medically reviewed information focusing on helping individuals manage and understand various health conditions. For example, the article “How Low-Dose CT Scans Can Save Countless Lives from Lung Cancer” discusses the benefits of low-dose CT scans for early detection of lung cancer. It is well-researched, providing evidence from studies and guidelines from authoritative sources like the American Cancer Society, American Thoracic Society, PubMed, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and ScienceDirect. This article is pro-science, advocating for the benefits of low-dose CT scans for lung cancer screening in high-risk individuals, and objectively presents factual information. Further, it balances its positive view of CT scans by briefly mentioning the risks involved, such as false positives and unnecessary follow-up tests. This adds credibility by acknowledging potential downsides and providing a factual and informative approach.
Another analysis, titled “Understanding Ulcerative Colitis,” provides a comprehensive guide on ulcerative colitis and is designed to educate readers about the condition in a straightforward and accessible manner. It uses simple language to make complex medical information more approachable for a general audience, avoiding heavy medical jargon that can alienate non-specialist readers. It has minimal emotive words, maintaining a neutral tone focusing on facts and patient support. References are cited throughout the text, linking to reputable sources such as Science Daily and studies, which provide readers with avenues to verify and explore the information further. The article also offers a ” Communities” section with links to bloggers, Instagrammers, podcasts, and support groups, providing resources and personal insights for those affected by ulcerative colitis. While connecting readers with UC communities is helpful, one downside is the potential overemphasis on personal experiences and anecdotal advice, which may vary in reliability compared to strictly medical guidance.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years
Overall, we rate HealthCentral as a Pro-Science Source based on proper scientific sourcing and a clean fact-check record. (M. Huitsing 04/16/2024)
Source: https://www.healthcentral.com/
Last Updated on April 16, 2024 by Media Bias Fact Check
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