Web Browsers, Internet Research & Professional Email

Web Browser Fundamentals for Healthcare Professionals

A web browser is the application you use to access websites and web-based applications on the internet. In a healthcare setting, you rely on web browsers constantly — to access cloud-based EHR systems, look up drug interactions, complete online training modules, check insurance eligibility portals, and stay current with medical guidelines. Understanding how to use a browser effectively is a foundational digital literacy skill.

What Is a Web Browser?

A web browser is a software application that retrieves and displays web pages from the internet. When you type a web address (URL) into the browser's address bar or click a link, the browser sends a request to a web server, downloads the page content, and renders it on your screen. The most common web browsers include:

• Microsoft Edge – The default browser in Windows 11, built on the Chromium engine. Edge is the browser you will most likely encounter on healthcare workstations because it integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 and Windows security features.
• Google Chrome – The most widely used browser worldwide, known for speed and extensive extension library.
• Mozilla Firefox – An open-source browser valued for its privacy features.
• Apple Safari – The default browser on Mac and iOS devices.

Key Browser Components

Regardless of which browser you use, the interface follows a standard layout:

Microsoft Edge Features for Healthcare

As the default Windows browser, Microsoft Edge offers several features particularly useful in healthcare environments:

Effective Internet Search Techniques

The internet contains billions of web pages, and knowing how to search efficiently separates a productive healthcare professional from one who wastes valuable time scrolling through irrelevant results. Whether you are looking up a medication's side effects, finding a CMS policy update, or researching best practices for patient intake workflows, strong search skills help you find accurate information quickly.

Basic Search Strategies

Most people type a few words into a search engine and hope for the best. With a few simple techniques, you can dramatically improve your results:

Advanced Search Strategies for Healthcare Research

When researching clinical topics or regulatory requirements, additional techniques can refine your results:

• Include the year – Healthcare guidelines change frequently. Adding the current year (e.g., 2026) helps ensure you find current information rather than outdated guidelines.
• Search authoritative domains – Use site:.gov for government sources, site:.edu for academic sources, or site:.org for established organizations.
• Use Boolean operators – AND narrows results (both terms must appear), OR broadens results (either term can appear). For example, telehealth regulations (Florida OR California) 2026 finds telehealth rules for either state.
• Check Google Scholar – For evidence-based clinical information, scholar.google.com searches academic and peer-reviewed publications specifically.

Evaluating Online Health Information: The CRAAP Test

Not all information on the internet is accurate, current, or trustworthy. This is especially critical in healthcare, where acting on unreliable information can compromise patient safety, lead to compliance violations, or result in poor clinical decisions. Healthcare professionals must develop the skill of critically evaluating every online source before relying on it.

Why Source Evaluation Matters in Healthcare

The internet hosts an enormous volume of health information, ranging from peer-reviewed research published by the National Institutes of Health to unverified blog posts and social media claims. A 2023 study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that nearly 40% of health-related content on social media platforms contained inaccurate or misleading information. In a professional healthcare setting, using unverified information could mean:

• Providing patients with incorrect health education
• Following outdated clinical protocols
• Violating regulatory requirements based on superseded guidelines
• Making billing or coding decisions based on inaccurate information

The CRAAP Test Framework

The CRAAP Test is a widely used evaluation framework developed by librarians at California State University, Chico. It provides five criteria for assessing the reliability of any information source:

CRAAP Test Quick-Reference

Reliable vs. Unreliable Health Information Sources

Getting Started with Microsoft Outlook: Email Management

Transitioning from internet research to professional communication, we now turn to Microsoft Outlook — the email, calendar, and contact management application in Microsoft 365. In healthcare, email is a primary communication channel for non-clinical correspondence: coordinating with colleagues, communicating with insurance companies, sending referral information, sharing reports with supervisors, and managing administrative workflows.

The Outlook Interface

When you open Microsoft Outlook, you will see several key areas:

Reading and Organizing Email

When a new email arrives in your Inbox, Outlook displays it in bold to indicate it is unread. After reading it, you should decide on an action:

Composing and Sending Email

To create a new email in Outlook:

1. Select New Email (or press Ctrl+N).
2. In the To field, type the recipient's email address. Outlook will suggest contacts from your address book as you type.
3. Use the Cc (Carbon Copy) field to include people who should be informed but are not the primary recipient. Use Bcc (Blind Carbon Copy) when recipients should not see each other's email addresses.
4. Type a clear, specific Subject line. Example: "Patient Referral – PT10452 – Cardiology Consult Request."
5. Compose your message in the body area using professional formatting.
6. To attach a file, select the Attach File button (paperclip icon) and browse for the document.
7. Select Send when your message is complete.

Professional Email Etiquette in Healthcare

Email in a healthcare setting is a professional communication tool, and the messages you send reflect on both you and your organization. Unlike casual text messages or social media posts, professional emails must be clear, courteous, and appropriately formal. Poor email communication can lead to misunderstandings, delayed responses, and a negative impression on colleagues, supervisors, and external partners.

Essential Elements of a Professional Healthcare Email

Every professional email should include these elements:

• Clear subject line – Summarize the email's purpose in 5–10 words. Include relevant identifiers when appropriate. Examples: "Staff Meeting Agenda – February 20, 2026," "Insurance Verification Request – PT10452," "HIPAA Training Completion Confirmation."
• Professional greeting – Begin with a greeting appropriate to the relationship. For a supervisor or external contact: "Dear Dr. Martinez," or "Good morning, Ms. Chen." For a familiar colleague: "Hello, Sarah," or "Hi, Team."
• Concise body – State the purpose of the email in the first sentence. Provide necessary details in organized paragraphs or bullet points. Keep the message focused on one topic when possible.
• Clear call to action – If you need the recipient to do something, state it explicitly. "Please review the attached schedule and confirm your availability by Friday, February 21" is much clearer than "Let me know what you think."
• Professional closing – End with an appropriate sign-off such as "Thank you," "Best regards," or "Sincerely," followed by your full name and contact information.
• Email signature – Include your name, title, department, phone number, and organization. Many healthcare organizations have a standardized email signature format.

Common Email Mistakes in Healthcare Settings

Outlook Calendar: Scheduling and Time Management

Beyond email, Microsoft Outlook includes a powerful calendar feature that healthcare professionals use to manage appointments, schedule meetings, set reminders, and coordinate across departments. In a healthcare setting, effective calendar management supports punctual patient care, efficient staff coordination, and timely completion of administrative tasks.

Accessing the Calendar

To switch from email to the calendar view, select the Calendar icon at the bottom of the navigation pane. You can switch between several views:

• Day view – Shows a single day broken into hourly time slots. Best for seeing detailed daily schedules.
• Work Week view – Shows Monday through Friday. The default and most commonly used view in healthcare settings.
• Week view – Shows all seven days including weekends. Useful for staff who work weekend shifts.
• Month view – Provides a high-level overview of the entire month. Good for planning ahead and identifying busy periods.

Creating an Appointment

An appointment is a scheduled block of time on your calendar that does not involve inviting other people. To create an appointment:

1. In the calendar view, double-click the desired date and time slot, or select New Appointment in the ribbon.
2. Enter a Subject (e.g., "Complete HIPAA Annual Training Module").
3. Set the Start time and End time.
4. Optionally add a Location (e.g., "Conference Room B" or "Online – Teams Link").
5. Add Notes in the body area for any relevant details.
6. Set a Reminder to alert you before the appointment (default is 15 minutes, but you can customize).
7. Select Save & Close.

Scheduling a Meeting

A meeting is like an appointment but includes inviting other people. When you create a meeting, Outlook sends email invitations to attendees who can accept, tentatively accept, or decline:

1. Select New Meeting in the ribbon (or press Ctrl+Shift+Q).
2. In the To field, add the email addresses of the people you want to invite.
3. Enter the Subject, Location, Start time, and End time.
4. Use the Scheduling Assistant to view attendees' availability. Outlook displays each person's free/busy status in a timeline, making it easy to find a time that works for everyone.
5. Add a message in the body with the meeting agenda or relevant information.
6. Select Send to deliver the invitation.

Recurring Events

Many healthcare activities happen on a regular schedule: weekly staff meetings, monthly safety huddles, quarterly compliance trainings, annual performance reviews. Instead of creating these events individually, you can set an event as recurring:

1. Create an appointment or meeting as usual.
2. Select Recurrence in the ribbon.
3. Set the pattern: daily, weekly (select specific days), monthly, or yearly.
4. Set the range: no end date, end after a specific number of occurrences, or end by a specific date.
5. Select OK, then save or send the event.

Calendar Best Practices for Healthcare Professionals