I'll jump in again. I think Amrita's original message was speaking more to
the Elhill databases that are available only through IGM once Elhill is
gone.. I agree that some of the features on PubMed make it equal to or
better than Medline on Elhill when you use all the features. What I was
trying to express in my earlier comment is that the search interface on IGM
(at least on Toxline) does not allow us all the options for those other
databases that are offered on PubMed. I haven't seen the next generation of
PubMed so I cannot comment on how that might improve searching.. Since I
didn't go to MLA and the MEDLARS/NLM updates, I do not know what
improvements, if any, are planned for those other databases such as Toxline
etc. that are on IGM. If they had an interface similar to PubMed, that
would improve things considerably. Does anyone know if that is the eventual
plan?
I think it is great that we have all these databases for free that we used
to have to pay for. I'd just hate to have to pay for Toxline through
Dialog. Unless the interface changes, when Elhill is gone I will have to
do just that so that I can do those more complex searches that IGM will not
handle at this time.
Auburn Steward, MLIS, AHIP
Center for Toxicology & Environmental Health
4301 W. Markham--Slot 767
Hendrix Hall--Suite 100A
Little Rock, AR 72205
501-614-2834
501-614-2835 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
http://www.cteh.uams.edu
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Breck Morgen, Evelyn [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Friday, June 18, 1999 1:50 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Demise of Medlars access?
>
> I agree with Paul that using PubMed has allowed us to drop expensive
> CD-ROM
> subscriptions (which were a real pain to keep up-to-date and networked)
> and
> purchase Cochrane, consumer health materials, and other internet
> subscriptions -- with money left over. I stopped using medlars in Feb/Mar
> 1998 and use PubMed exclusively. I've also taught about eight totally
> booked classes to our medical staff and residents with positive feedback.
> It has taken me months to feel comfortable with it, but I keep
> discovering
> surprising features I like much better than anything on Elhill -- such as
> "mesh browser", "journal browser", "citation matcher", "clinical queries"
> for evidence based medicine requests, or using the details window to
> revise
> a search strategy. I have to say it took me years (decades?) before I
> felt
> really comfortable searching Elhill. The learning curve on this is much
> easier -- but it still needs an investment of time for instruction from
> knowledgeable trainers and hours/months of actual use. It's not perfect,
> but
> it's steadily improving with enhancements still forthcoming. I love
> teaching it to our family practice residents as a free tool they can use
> wherever they practice medicine anywhere in the world.
> *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
> Evelyn Breck Morgen, Director
> Tremaine Library
> Middlesex Hospital, Middletown, CT 06457
> (860) 344-6286 FAX (860) 344-6115
> [log in to unmask]
> *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
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