Finding Clinical Information: Notes for New 3rd Year Students          

Off-Campus Access to "Drexel-Only" Websites

• You must be recognized as a Drexel student to access Drexel e-journals, e-books, etc. 
  • To trigger recognition, open a Drexel Library page and click a restricted link.  Type your Drexel email username and password when prompted.
• Don’t use DrexelOne login if you want to avoid time-outs.
• Computers on hospital floors are not connected to the Drexel network. Consider them off-campus, even in Philadelphia.

Patient Care Answers

• Diagnosaurus–Differential diagnosis.  Use online or download to PDA.
• DXplain–Clinical decision support: differential diagnosis, disease summaries.
• DynaMed–Evidence-based summaries for clinical questions; about 3,000 topics. PDA option by request (get serial number).
• Evidence-based Medicine Research Guide–Links to web resources.
• FIRSTConsult–Evidence-based decision support for primary care: diseases, diagnosis, procedures, drug information.   Use online or download to PDA.
• Health Sciences E-books–More E-books than MDConsult: Cardiology, Pediatrics, etc.
• MDConsult–Clinical books & journals, drug information, guidelines, patient education.
• MEDLINEPlus–Patient information (screened for quality) in English, Spanish and other languages, videos, tutorials. 
• National Guidelines Clearinghouse-Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines
• Natural Standard–Complementary and alternative medicine + evidence of efficacy.
• UpToDate--on one computer at Hahnemann Library (no remote access).

Literature Searches

• Search MEDLINE (OVID).
• Search MEDLINE (PubMed).
• Ovid MEDLINE Tutorial.
• PubMed Tutorial.
• MEDLINE/PubMed Review Sheets.
• Best Clinical Evidence in MEDLINE/PubMed:
  • Limit to Publication types: Randomized controlled trial, Meta Analysis, etc.
  • Limit to EBM Reviews (Ovid)–Research findings evaluated by experts.
  • Limit to Systematic Reviews–Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, reviews of clinical trials, consensus development conferences, guidelines, etc.
• Other useful limits:
• Limit to Review articles.
• Limit to Core Clinical Journals–JAMA, NEJM, other key titles.

Managing Literature References/Generating Reference Lists

• RefWorks-Create a personal literature database, and use it to format reference lists.
• EndNote-Download software at Drexel IRT Download Site.

Exam Review

• Exam Master Online.
• USMLEasy.
• PreTest Ebooks Online.

Residency Information

• The Residency and Training Programs Research Guide provides links to FRIEDA, NRMP, and specialty specific residency directories.

Hahnemann Library

• Has patient-oriented journals & books, plus review books (shelf exams, USMLE step 2).

Can't Find Book/Article at Drexel?

• Borrow From Other Libraries.
  • EZ-Borrow--borrow books from Pennsylvania academic libraries.
  • ILLiad--request books/articles from any library. We deliver via web (articles) or library pickup (books).

Need Help?

• Hahnemann Library--(215) 762-7184.
• Queen Lane Library--(215) 991-8740.