Dentists can apply for YouTube features that identify them as licensed health care professionals

In an effort to better highlight trusted health information for consumers, YouTube is expanding its health product features to channels hosted by licensed health care professionals.

The features include panels that appear below videos to identify them as coming from a licensed health care professional and content shelves that highlight videos from trusted sources when users search for information on a health topic.

YouTube previously offered these features only to organizations such as educational institutions, public health departments, hospitals and government entities, but licensed health care professionals can apply online at  health.youtube to make their channels eligible for the features too.

Applicants must provide proof of their license; follow best practices for health information sharing as set out by the Council of Medical Specialty Societies, National Academy of Medicine and World Health Organization; and have a channel in good standing on YouTube. YouTube will verify the licenses of applying health care professionals and review their channels against these guidelines.

"Effective communication is at the heart of improving people's health, and we're excited for this next phase in our work to connect people with highly authoritative health information that is both evidence-based and culturally relevant," YouTube Health global head Garth Graham, M.D., said in a blog post announcing the expansion.