Top Information Sources in Biomedicine, 2012
From HLWIKI Canada
 To browse other articles on a range of HSL topics, see the wiki index.
IntroductionSee also Collection development in biomedicine | Print ordering | Reference services | Top Ten Reference Competencies
Many sources below were once recommended by the Brandon & Hill lists -- a collection development tool that was superceded by Doody's Core Titles. However, there are few websites or selection tools that specialize in the best Canadian medical books -- a prime reason why this entry was created. Your input, comment and feedback is much appreciated.
Key
A to L
ACP Medicine is the first comprehensive reference to carry the name of the American College of Physicians. Developed to help physicians keep up with changing guidelines in primary care; continually updated, evidence-based reference of internal medicine. Classic comprehensive volume of 660 pages is divided into sections such as preparing articles for publication, style, terminology, measurement & technical information. Some AMA guides are available online http://www2.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/library/workshop/citama.htm A classic of anatomy illustration with ~5,000 illustrations covering medicine, basic science, diseases, disorders and treatments. Since 1948, ~20 million print and electronic versions have been used by students and practitioners. The Atlas of Human Anatomy, now in its fourth edition, has sold over 1 million copies since 1989.
Current information and statistics on communicable diseases, includes alerts about international outbreaks. Notifiable Disease Summaries show incidence of new cases and new publications, Health Canada guidelines, symposia, etc.; Advisory Committee Statements; international outbreak advisories; and an annual index. For American equivalent, try Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report MMWR. The 4th ed. (2009) presents concepts every nurse needs to know. Clear writing makes it a favorite of students and faculty. Addresses practice issues, including focus on evidence-based practice, safety and end-of-life care. To meet needs of students, a section on prioritizing has been added and care plans have been expanded to explain assessment. 45 chapters have been adapted to reflect nursing practice in Canada. The premier physician directory in Canada. Lists ~60,000 doctors, credentials and geographic location; contains the Canadian Medical Association's code of ethics, and separate sections on hospital locations, medical faculties and expert medical witnesses, and areas of expertise. Comprehensive collection of codes of ethics, standards, or professional guidelines of Canadian professional health associations. Individual codes of ethics are available for each profession (via Web also), but this seems to be the only collection. This 2nd edition was published in 1999. Comprehensive drug information resource produced by the Canadian Pharmacists Association and includes information on proprietary and nonproprietary Canadian drugs intended for human use. Internal medicine reference provides treatment and diagnosis information for 1,000 common diseases and disorders encountered in inpatient and outpatient care. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - 4th ed - Text Revision (TR) is published by the American Psychiatric Association. Includes diagnostic criteria, descriptions and classification and diagnosis (using ICD - International Classification of Diseases) of mental disorders. It provides information about features, culture, age, gender, prevalence, and familial pattern of mental disorders. DSM-V is coming in 2011.
Definitive handbook of poisoning for all physicians, nurses, healthcare and crisis and hotline workers, paramedics and students. (Out of print for several years.) Designed as a ready-reference tool, provides information in compact summaries of toxicology, prevention and management of exposure, poisoning, adverse events, abuse and withdrawal from pharmaceuticals, household, environmental and natural hazards. Contains guidelines for consultations with medical toxicologists and poison information centers.
Provides coverage of contemporary virology with emphasis on clinical relevance. Includes pathogenesis of viral diseases and molecular biology, replication, and clinical significance of all known virus families. Annual financial statement with billing figures for BC physicians. Used to determine doctors' salaries; figures are gross billings and do not account for overhead. Covers basic dermatology from the biology of skin to the latest in surgical treatments. All conditions are covered such as benign and malignant, chronic and acute, infectious to cosmetic. New full-color design, organization, chapter templates, 2000 illustrations, and more. 
Leslie Morton had a distinguished career as a medical librarian, but was known as compiler of the indispensable reference work Garrison-Morton. GM provides a chronological bibliography of the most important books in medicine. From the 7800 entries in the 4th ed., the fifth was expanded to a total of 8927, making it the most comprehensive medical bibliography available.
Comprehensive information about diagnosis, treatment, medications, follow-up and more than 1,000 medical conditions. With (Dr. Mark Dambro) at the helm, this text takes a more evidence-based approach and presents bullet points on disease topics in a consistent 3-column format. All topics include cited evidence-based references. Expanded drug therapy in each topic and more alternative medicine. A signs and symptoms index is included. A very highly regarded medical text used by health care providers. Provides overviews and detailed articles in internal medicine. Updated daily; e-content is stable until new print editions are published. Expanded features include references, acronyms, clinical trial data, concise reviews and editorials, self-assessment questions, links to MEDLINE® and information from emerging fields.
Emphasis on patient care, diagnosis and treatment, rather than scientific aspects. This 12th ed. features use of tables, charts and figures, current ACC/AHA guidelines, interpretations of clinical trials and cardiology data found in the Human Genome Project. M to ZMedical and surgical intensive care manual. Includes a "how-to" atlas of procedures and a new section on noninvasive monitoring for rapid bedside reference. This quick-reference handbook (3rd ed., 2001) outlines the etiology, epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric disorders using DSM-IV-TR diagnoses. Each chapter ends with specific page references to Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry. New scholarly approach to scientific concepts and updates to help explain latest break-throughs and the newest clinical algorithms. As an Expert Consult title, includes a fully searchable e-book from any computer with an Internet connection. “MCM” (9th ed., 2007) is a definitive source for clinically significant pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. A classic text focusing on both diagnosis and treatment. Melloni's 4th ed. is a key source for medical anatomy and other topics since 1979. Entries are alphabetized, include synonyms, pronunciation, cross refs and abbreviations. Defines 30,000 terms in everyday language; entries on genetics, oncology, immunology, gynaecology, radiology and other fields. 60 pages of tables of arteries, bones, muscles, nerves and veins. No online version.
MIM is a standard genetics reference text and catalogue of human genes and genetic disorders. It is edited by Dr. Victor A. McKusick (considered the father of medical genetics) and his colleagues at Johns Hopkins. Contains textual information, pictures and references. Each entry includes a description of genetic diseases, extensive references to the research and a clinical synopsis to aid in diagnosis. Links to NCBI's Entrez database of MEDLINE articles and sequence information.
Published by the Buros Institute of Mental Measurements since 1938. Critical reviews of over 2,000 English-language tests covering education skills, personality, neuropsychological, achievement and intelligence tests, psychology and related medical areas. Includes lengthy descriptions, references, and evaluations pertaining to published tests in English. See also: HaPI and ERIC indexes.  The Merck index (14th ed.) should not be confused with the Merck manuals consulted in health libraries. The Merck Index is a unique encyclopedia of chemicals, drugs and biological compounds with over 10,000 monographs on single substances or related groups. It includes an appendix with monographs on organic name reactions. Here are its explanatory notes: pdf
Covers pediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics, gynaecology, dermatology, pharmacology, ophthalmology and otolaryngology. New topics include hand disorders, prion diseases, death and dying, chronic fatigue syndrome, rehabilitation, smoking cessation, and drug therapy. Language is technical. Other Merck manuals are available including Geriatrics and Consumer Home Editions.
Covers principles and advanced subspecialty procedures. In-depth coverage of basic science and pharmacology step-by-step instructions for patient management and an in-depth analysis of ancillary responsibilities and problems. Contact information (and maps) for 5,000 agencies and programs in the Lower Mainland. Allows keyword searching by organization and/or subject heading; limit by geographic location. Covers the Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver and Squamish-Lillooet Regional Districts. Now published by BC211, and also accessible via UBC catalogue.
A classic pediatric text available in print and online (via OVID and STATRef!). When diagnosis is required, problems are clearly described; a must for dealing with day- to-day problems, differential diagnoses and passing board exams. Suggested for initial purchase and minimal core collections. A gold standard for pediatrics.
Comprehensive coverage of surgical topics with emphasis on surgical oncology. Includes chapters on basic science, anatomy and physiology for each organ system, diagnostic test and procedures as well as photos and line drawings of surgical techniques and radiographs.
Covers basic science and clinical topics to diagnose and treat urologic diseases. Focuses on anatomy and embryology of the genitourinary system, physical and diagnostic examination, and specific disorders of the genitourinary system, including bacterial infections, STDs, neoplasms of the prostate gland, kidney disease, and renal failure. 400 illustrations including CT scans, radionuclide imaging scans, and x-rays.
Review of specialities (anaesthesia to urology) written in concise form. Colour atlas and CDROM (DigiDoc, an interactive exploration of internal medicine). Very popular with nurses, and allied health professionals. Indispensable for understanding disease processes and management. Arranged by topic (similar to W's in NLM classification). See USMLE series for American medical licensing exam books.
A classic obstetrics text (23rd ed., 2010) takes an evidence-based approach to obstetrics with content, including management guidelines and treatment recommendations, rigorously referenced throughout. See also |
