Himmelfarb Library is considering discontinuing access to several online resources and is seeking input from the GW community regarding these decisions. The resources which are being reconsidered are Natural Medicines and Essential Evidence Plus. Please keep reading for more information on these resources and for alternative information resources.
Natural Medicines / Natural Standard
For the past several years, Himmelfarb Library has subscribed to Natural Medicines and/or Natural Standard both of which provide evidence-based information on natural and herbal medicines. This year, Himmelfarb Library is considering canceling its subscription to these resources in light of low usage, rising costs, and the availability of this type of information from other sources.
Natural medicines information would continue to be available from Himmelfarb LIbrary via alternate drug information tools including:
- Lexicomp - Lexicomp's 'Natural Products database' provides ' in-depth, peer-reviewed information on over 400 commonly used natural products; natural products information includes in-line referencing and information on dosage, source, adverse reactions, uses and pharmacology, toxicology, pregnancy/lactation and other key information.
- ClinicalKey - ClinicalKey's 'Drug Monographs' provide information on herbals, vitamins, and nutritional products in addition to covering prescription and over-the-counter drugs; information includes mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics as well as indications, administration, contraindications, interactions, adverse reactions, and monitoring parameters.
- Natural medicines information is also available via the library's e-book collection which includes these titles: Textbook of Natural Medicine, Integrative Medicine, and A Guide to Evidence-based Integrative and Complementary Medicine.
Essential Evidence Plus
Himmelfarb Library provides access to several clinical and evidence-based medicine information resources including Best Practice, ClinicalKey's FirstConsult, DynaMed and Essential Evidence Plus. This year, Himmelfarb Library is considering ceasing its subscription to Essential Evidence Plus due to low usage and the availability of other point-of-care information resources. Himmelfarb Library plans to continue to offer access to the following resources:
- Best Practice - Evidence-based resource providing disease and drug information. Disease information uses step-by-step approach, covering prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Best Practice is published by the BMJ Publishing Group and designed for U.S. healthcare provides; drug information is provided by AHFS Drug Information. Web and app access available.
- ClinicalKey's FirstConsult - Evidence-based clinical information database which is updated weekly and draws heavily on the National Guideline Clearinghouse, Cochrane systematic reviews, and BMJ Clinical Evidence as information sources. FirstConsult is a component of the broader ClinicalKey resources which provides full-text access to 600+ full-text journals and nearly 1,200 full-text books plus drug information, practice guidelines, images, and multimedia instructional materials. Web and app access available.
- DynaMed - Point-of-care information resource includes drug and disease information and provides access to huge range of clinical topics addressing point-of-care information for both in-patient and out-patient medicine. DynaMed's information is updated daily and new information is integrated quickly after publication in the peer-reviewed medical literature. Web and app access available.
If you would like to provide feedback on either of these decisions, please send comments to Laura Abate (leabate@gwu.edu) by April 1, 2014.
