JOURNAL
PRICE STUDY
JOURNAL
PRICE STUDY
A recent price study conducted by EBSCO Subscription Services indicates that the average price of a 1998 subscription to a title included in Index Medicus is $501.11, an increase of 7.2% over the 1997 average price. The average price has risen 51.5% in the years 1994-1998 and 270% in the years 1986-1998. The chart below shows the increases 1989-1998.
The study further revealed that 32 titles have increased in price
over 200% or more since 1994, with twelve titles increasing over 100% or
more last year. Journals in the basic science/research area account for
46.4% of the total dollar cost of Index Medicus titles while representing
only 29.6% of the total titles. Sixteen subject areas increased 100% or
more in the last year.
Over the past decade, the rate of inflation for biomedical journals has increased more rapidly than the rate of inflation for health expenditures nationally or for medical research
The Biomedical Library has seen increases in journal costs in recent years, also. The following chart shows the increase in the materials budget for journals.
A price increase of 9.5% to 11.5% for US journals and 9%-11% for non-domestic
journals is projected for 1999.
Prices for medical books are expected to increase 4% in 1999.
INTERNET SITES OF NOTE
Two meta Internet sites are available with a variety of medical information and access to the MEDLINE database. Both Medscape and BioMedNet also e-mail users regularly with information on new resources available at the site. Both can be accessed without charge.
Medscape offers a medical dictionary, practice guidelines and CME. It is available at http://www.medscape.com
BioMedNet offers access to online journals, databases, and digests of top scientific news stories. There is also an online job exchange. BioMedNet can be accessed at http://www.bmn.com/
The Atlas of Brain Perfusion SPECT contains twenty one cases. Most of these cases are presented with relevant case history, clinical information and pertinent SPECT images along with co-registered scans (SPECT merged with CT or MRI). The site is mounted by the Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School and can be found at http://brighamrad.harvard.edu/education/online/BrainSPECT/
HealthSTAR
HealthSTAR is an online bibliographic database that provides access to published literature of Health Services Technology, Administration, and Research. HealthSTAR is produced cooperatively by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the American Hospital Association (AHA) and is one of many databases on NLM's Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (MEDLARS). The database contains citations (with abstracts if available) to journal articles, monographs, technical reports, meeting abstracts and papers, book chapters, and government documents from 1975 to the present. HealthSTAR became available in May 1996 through the merging of two former NLM databases, the HEALTH (Health Planning and Administration) database, and the HSTAR (Health Services/Technology Assessment Research) database. The following topics are included in the database: evaluation of patient outcomes; effectiveness of procedures, programs, productions, services and processes; administration and planning of health facilities, services and manpower; health insurance; health economics and financial management; health policy; health services research; laws and regulations; personnel administration and quality accreditation. HealthSTAR is available via the OVID system and via Internet Grateful Med.
COLLEGE OF MEDICINE HOMEPAGE UPDATE
USA Clinical Trials Goes Online
An online resource has been established for USA
College of Medicine Clinical Trials. This electronic version contains a
searchable database with descriptions of currently approved and active
clinical research projects in the College of Medicine. The database provides
information on the drug or type of treatment being tested, specific medical
eligibility, a project description and contact/referral information. These
studies are also accessible by department and principal investigator. The
web site can be used to find a variety of information related to clinical
trials and is designed as a resource tool for both patients and physicians
alike.
There are many kinds of clinical trials and range
from ways to prevent, detect, diagnose and treat various diseases to studies
that improve the patient's comfort and quality of life. Each clinical study
attempts to increase medical knowledge and to findnew and better ways to
help patients with various medical conditions.
To learn more about clinical studies being conducted
at the USA College of Medicine, visit the USA Clinical Trials homepage
at http://southmed.usouthal.edu/com/trials/
Evidence Based Medicine
A new page has been added to the Biomedical Library
homepage, with links to major Evidence Based Medicine sites on the Internet.
Check out http://southmed.usouthal.edu/library/ebm.htm.
The Biomedical Library sponsored a teleconference on September 16 on Evidence
Based Healthcare in Action. The teleconference was broadcast by the Medical
Library Association. Librarians from the Biomedical Library plan to hold
a journal club in the coming months that will focus on this timely topic.
MEDIA PRODUCTION SERVICES UPDATE
The homepage for Media Production Services can be found at http://southmed.usouthal.edu/com/mps/. A list of services offered can be found on the MPS homepage, including graphics, photography, video production, digital services, audio/visual support. A price list is also included. As new services are added, they will be highlighted on the homepage. MPS can be contacted at mps@jaguar1.usouthal.edu .
HEALTH RESOURCES FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIANS
The Biomedical Library has received a sub-contract from the Southeastern/Atlantic Region/National Network of Libraries of Medicine to provide Internet classes for public librarians. The classes will focus on consumer health web sites and searching the MEDLINE database via Internet Grateful Med and PubMed. A series of nine classes will be held during September at the Mobile Public Library Training Center. Librarians from south Alabama and northwest Florida are attending. Instructors are Jie Li, Sally Murray and Judy Burnham. Judy Burnham is the principal investigator for the sub-contract, which will provide $2000 in funding.
BIOMEDICAL LIBRARY FACULTY AND STAFF NEWS
Tom Williams has been notified that his membership in the Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP) has been renewed at the Distinguished level until 2003. AHIP recognizes the personal investment of time and effort required for exemplary professional performance and contributions to the advancement of the Medical Library Association (MLA) and the profession from the entry level throughout one's professional career. Distinguished is the highest level.
At the recent meeting of the Alabama Health Libraries Association in Mobile, Jie Li assumed the position of President of the organization. Jie was also responsible for planning the meeting, and Geneva Bush was co-chair of the Continuing Education Committee. At the meeting, Tom Williams served as a panelist for the keynote presentation. For the coming year, in addition to Jie, Diane Williams will serve as editor of the organization's newsletter, Synapse.
Anne Romano has been named Library Supervisor, Technical Processing and Acquisitions. Anne has been the Circulation/Reserve Supervisor for the past five years. Bobby Parker has been promoted to Library Supervisor, Circulation/Reserve Department. Vern Brown has joined the Circulation Department, campus site, as a Library Technical Assistant I.
DONATION TO SLOVAKIA MEDICAL SCHOOL
Several medical textbooks that were either duplicates of copies in our collection, or replaced by newer issues, were donated to the P.J. Safarik University in Kosice, Slovakia. Kosice is a sister city of Mobile. The coordination of the donation was handled by Dr. Donald Dohn.
ELECTRONIC JOURNALS ON SOUTHcat
The Biomedical Library has begun to include electronic journals in the SOUTHcat online catalog. The project began with the journals included in the full-text collection provided by the OVID search system. Additional journals will be added in the future.
INTERNET WORKSHOP FOR PHYSICIANS
Three Internet Workshops for Physicians have been held by the Biomedical Library one in June, one in July and one in September with 39 in attendance. The objectives of these courses were:
DONATIONS
The following individuals have donated materials to the Biomedical Library in the last few months. These materials have helped to expand the collection and have replaced some missing journal issues.
Dr. Leonard Aldes
Pathology Laboratory Associates
Don and Danielle Gibson Dr.
Cindy Thurston
Dr. Robert Boerth
T. Weidman
Dr. Charles Hoff
USA College of Nursing, Maternal Child Nursing Dept
Dr. Nestor Flodin .
SOUTHmed UPDATE
A recent article in Annals of Internal Medicine summarized recent research on medical libraries today. One study (JAMA 1993; 269:3124-9) indicated that 41% of MEDLINE searches concerning patient care affected diagnoses, tests and treatments. Another study (BMLA 1992; 80:169-78) reported that 80% of physicians responding to a questionnaire believed that information from medical librarians "probably" or "definitely" changed patient management. Medical libraries can enable health care professionals to make informed decisions by providing the right information at the right time. As the motto of the Friends of the National Library of Medicine states, "The more you know, the better you heal."
Membership in SOUTHmed can provide access to current, timely medical information for health care profesionals in the hospital setting or in private practice. Classes in accessing medical information via the Internet or searching MEDLINE are another benefit of membership. Membership also meets the knowledge based information requirements for Standard IX of the JCAHO Standards.
Providence Hospital Library recently renewed membership in the SOUTHmed Information Network as has the law firm, Armbrecht, Jackson, DeMouy and Crowe. We look forward to continuing to assist these groups in meeting their health information needs.
Judy Burnham meet with the physicians and department heads at Atmore Community Hospital, members of SOUTHmed, to explain the services provided to the health care professionals at that site.
For further information on joining SOUTHmed or if interested in arranging
for a meeting presentation, contact Judy Burnham, 460-6888.
To make comments, suggestions, or get more information, send email to medlib@jaguar1.usouthal.edu or call (334)-414-8210.
University of South Alabama Biomedical Library
This page URL http://southmed.usouthal.edu/library/bf/biof41.htm
Revised: 12/28/00