Doctors: Library Resources & Services: Clinical Decision Support

BMJ Best Practice  is now freely available to everyone in Ireland via HSE Library.  BMJ Best Practice provides fast, easy access to the latest evidence on health conditions. 

BMJ Best Practice features:

• Detailed overviews of over 1,000 conditions
• Links to BNF drug information, medical guidelines and medical calculators
• Images and procedural videos
• Treatment algorithms and differential diagnosis information
• Educational information for patients

Register for a free personal account to enable you to download the App and track your CME.

UpToDate provides topics covering 25 specialties.

Each UpToDate  evidence based topic summary has been compiled using a rigorous editorial process to synthesise the most recent medical information into trusted, evidence-based recommendations.  What's New, Practice Changing Updates, Patient Information, Drug Information and Calculators also available. 

We recommend that you set up a personal account to download the UpToDate App and to track your CME.  See the FAQ on Questions on UpToDate 

ClinicalKey provides full-text reference books and journals, point-of-care monographs, drug information, videos, practice guidelines, customised patient education handouts and clinical calculators.

ClinicalKey can be accessed via desktop, mobile and App. A personal ClinicalKey account is required to use the ClinicalKey App, in addition to registration with HSE Library. 

Steps required to set up your personal ClinicalKey account (required to use App):

• Go to ClinicalKey.com click ‘Login’ and select 'Other Institution Login'. Type Health Service Executive into the search box. 
• Select HSE HSE Library Account Login.
• A pop up box will appear, within Choose Organisation select your HSE Library area.
• Select 'Activate’ to create your personal account. 
• Complete form and select Register.
• Download the ClinicalKey App, selecting Global and then ClinicalKey from the menus.
• Open the App, scroll down to ‘Institution Login’ and search for Health Service Executive (Ireland). On the next screen select HSE Library Ireland Account Login. Enter your library account username and password. 

The Clinical Queries feature of PubMed limits results of searches to the following  specific clinical research areas:

• COVID-19 Articles
• Clinical Study Categories
• Medical Genetics

It is a useful resource for rapidly filtering and displaying methodologically sound and clinically relevant articles.

Cochrane Reviews are systematic reviews which have been conducted to a very high methodological standard to identify, appraise and synthesise all empirical evidence which meets pre-specified eligibility criteria to answer a specific research question. Cochrane Reviews are a key component of the Cochrane Library. 

Authors aim to minimise bias to ensure that their findings can reliably inform decision-making. Cochrane Reviews are updated regularly to reflect the findings of new evidence when it becomes available.

The Author's Conclusion segment of Cochrane Reviews feature short recommendations for further research and clinical practice, both of which are very useful to clinicians. 

Cochrane Clinical Answers (CCAs) provide a readable, digestible, clinically focused entry point to rigorous research from Cochrane Reviews.

They are designed to be actionable and to inform point of care decision making. 

Examples of Clinical Answers include:

What are the benefits and harms of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for people with late radiation tissue injury?

How does high‐flow nasal cannula (HFNC) compare to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for respiratory support in term infants?

For adults undergoing hip fracture surgery, does tranexamic acid reduce the need of blood cell transfusions?

The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) publish RCR iRefer Guidelines: Making the best use of clinical radiology (iRefer). iRefer promotes evidence-based imaging. Guidance is provided for adults and paediatrics suggesting the most appropriate imaging modality depending on the clinical presentation.

Access iRefer via automatic IP login from a HSE site only. Select Login and then Organisational Login (SSO)

National Medicines Information Centre (NMIC)

The NMIC team provides evidence-based information and advice to prescribers on all aspects of the therapeutic use of medicines.  They offer a clinical enquiry answering service on all aspects of the therapeutic use of medicines including indications, drug interactions and drug use in pregnancy/lactation. This service is available to all prescribers.

Contact Details

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
nmic@stjames.ie
(01) 473 0589 or 1850 727 727

The NMIC also produces publications and has an educational role in promoting safe and effective use of medicines.

More information is available on their website.

ExpertPath is provided specifically for staff undertaking Pathology training.

It provides provides comprehensive anatomic and clinical pathology decision support you can rely on, including:

• 5,200+ common and complex diagnoses
• 77,000 high-quality example images
• 5,000+ introductory modules
• 34 anatomic and clinical pathology specialties
• Overviews of diagnosis groups
• Tables with summary information for organ systems
• Normal histology topics
• Specimen handling protocols and best practices

Access to BMJ Learning is available through our Library Service. BMJ Learning offers high-quality continuing medical education for doctors and other healthcare professionals. It features hundreds of accredited, peer-reviewed learning modules in text, video, and audio formats.

Please contact your local Library if you require any further information in this regard.