MDNews - Greater Kansas

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++ +++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ TECHNOLOGY UPDATE + + Enhancing Physician Access to Best Practice Knowledge FIRST CONSULT, AN ONLINE RESOURCE FOR EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE, ALLOWS PHYSICIANS TO ACCESS PERTINENT INFORMATION AT THE POINT OF CARE. as the point-of-care reference within MD Consult, Elsevier's flagship online physician resource. In 2010, with a new home and editorial staff, First Consult began expanding its content and deepening its relationship to MD Consult. "Physicians require accurate and IN relevant information for clinical decision- making," says Marjorie Lazoff, M.D., medical editor of information develop- ment at First Consult. "At First Consult, our goal is to create a helpful resource that will enhance the practice of medi- cine and patient care." The Importance of Evidence- Based Medicine Each patient has a unique set of health concerns, and many have comorbidities necessitating individualized management and treatment. "Medicine is rooted in scientific research, so it is very important for physicians to base their practice on evidence-based medicine," says Dr. Lazoff. "Taking an evidence-based approach one step further, First Consult presents evidence that meets rigorous scientific standards in a format that allows physicians to ferret out informa- tion relating specifically to individual patients with multiple comorbidities or complex conditions." Taking First Consult into the 21st Century In 2009, David R. Goldmann, M.D., became the editor-in-chief of First Consult, which is now located in 2007, THE GLOBAL science and health informa- tion company Elsevier introduced First Consult Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Goldmann is a recognized expert in evidence-based medicine, a longtime editor of academic medical publications and an experienced clinician who practiced medicine for more than 35 years. Last year, as part of an initiative to revamp the editorial staff, he added three full-time physician editors, each of whom brings unique com- binations of clinical, administrative and editorial backgrounds to First Consult. "Our editorial staff is committed to professionalism," says Dr. Lazoff. "We have academicians and expert clinicians authoring and peer reviewing the content, but it is the physician editors who ensure that each topic includes the most relevant evidence-based medicine presented with a practice-oriented approach." The new staff is currently expanding First Consult's core content and mul- timedia, and has initiated several new features, such as a new home page with articles of interest to practicing physi- cians. The introduction of interactive capability among subscribers, authors and editors is planned for the near future. First Consult is also now available as an app for both the iPhone and iPad. " T h r o u g h o u r expans ion, we a re striving to create a very accessible resource that puts clinical information at physicians' fingertips," says Dr. Lazoff. "First Consult allows physicians to access content at the point of care and, at the same time, First Consult also provides an easy conduit into MD Consult, which is very useful when physicians have a need for more in-depth information. MD Consult provides a wealth of extensive information in published journals, review articles and textbooks that complements First Consult's original content and concise format." To learn more about the services provided through First Consult, visit www.firstconsult. com. n

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