UpToDate Clinical Decision Support Tool

Jul 8, 2024

UpToDate Clinical Decision Support Tool

Overview

  • UpToDate: evidence-based, physician-authored clinical decision support resource
  • Helps clinicians with:
    • Answering clinical questions
    • Increasing clinical knowledge
    • Improving patient care
  • Differentiators:
    • Rigorous editorial process
    • World-renowned physician contributors
    • Wide range of access options (including mobile apps)
  • Over 60 research studies confirm improved patient care and hospital performance

Accessing UpToDate

  1. Open browser and go to www.uptodate.com
  2. Click on 'login' and enter credentials

Features

Search Functionality

  • Search for signs, symptoms, diseases, conditions, drug information, and medical abbreviations
  • Auto-prompt feature saves time

Example Search: COPD & Sepsis

  • Provides auto-prompts
  • Sepsis search returns categorized topics (adult, pediatric, patient information)
  • Detailed sections and sub-sections for intensive study

Content Format

  • Standard format for all topics
  • Literature review dates are updated continuously
  • Subsections and detailed outlines available

Summary & Recommendations Section

  • Provides bullet points and synopsis
  • Graded recommendations:
    • Grade 1: Strong recommendation
    • Grade 2: Weaker recommendation
    • Levels of evidence: A (high), B (moderate), C (low)
  • Contains over 9,600 graded recommendations

References

  • Hyperlinked references for in-depth study
  • Direct access to abstracts and full articles where available

Graphics & Visual Aids

  • Clickable graphics that can be bookmarked, printed, shared, and exported to PowerPoint
  • Graphics compiled in a single section

What's New Section

  • Provides updates from the past 6 months, categorized by specialty
  • Practice changing updates by the editorial team

Calculators

  • Over 170 specialty-based calculators
  • Example: APGAR score calculator with interpretive results

Drug Interaction Tool

  • Helps interpret drug to drug, drug to herb, herb to herb interactions
  • Provides risk ratings and detailed interaction summaries

Mobile App

  • Available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store
  • Usable with the same credentials as web access

Conclusion

  • UpToDate is a comprehensive, trustworthy clinical decision support tool designed to enhance clinical knowledge and patient care through its extensive, regularly updated content and specialized features.

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