UpToDate provides hundreds of patient education topics that
clinicians can share with patients or patients can access on their own
through our web site at www.uptodate.com/patients.
These topics offer an in-depth discussion of the risk factors,
causes, diagnostic processes, preventive measures, complications, and
recommended treatments for many of the most common conditions. Similar
to our clinician-level materials, the patient information topics are
updated every four months; thus, our patient information is some of the
most accurate and evidence-based available.
Our patient information is written for educated and inquisitive
patients and family members, and may not be appropriate for all reading
levels. See the "Where to get more information" section of each
patient-level topic for other web sites that may be appropriate for
patients at different reading levels.
Accessing UpToDate patient
information
Clinicians can access patient information topics as follows:
Click Patient Info on the toolbar, then click
on the medical category of interest.
Through the search facility (for example, search on "patient
info asthma"). In UpToDate online, you can use the Prioritize
patient topics option to display patient topics first in the search
results.
Click Patient in the topic tools area at
upper-right in a topic to go directly to the Information for Patients
section, where you will find links to any related patient information
topics.
Note: The Patient tool is
available only in professional-level topics for which there is related
patient information.
Our patient information topics are also available free to the
public at www.uptodate.com/patients.
Patients can search for information using the search facility. Relevant
patient information topics (where available) will be listed at the top
of the search results list. Patients can also click on "view
patient-level table of contents" directly below the Search box to view
all of our patient information topics by medical category. All topics
can be printed or e-mailed.
How does UpToDate for Patients differ from other
online medical information resources?
UpToDate is the trusted resource of hundreds of
thousands of physicians around the world and the
majority of academic medical centers in the US. UpToDate has
also been endorsed by leading medical
societies in the United States. These subscribers and societies
recognize the high quality and value of UpToDate's information.
What makes UpToDate different?
A rigorous editorial and peer-review process to ensure the
clarity and accuracy of the content.
Participation by more than 4,000 expert physicians in writing
and editing the content.
A continual updating process to assure that all of the content
best represents practices based on the most recent medical evidence.
UpToDate accepts no advertising or sponsorships, a
policy that helps to ensure that UpToDate's content remains
unbiased by any commercial interests.
Key features of UpToDate for Patients
(www.uptodate.com/patients):
A free-text search engine enables patients to quickly and
easily find information relevant to their condition. The search engine
searches over UpToDate's patient and professional-level
information and recognizes most major medical abbreviations and
synonyms. On the search results page, patient information topics are
indicated by the words "Patient information" and are available for free to
the public. Patients can subscribe to
access professional-level topics.
Each patient information topic offers an in-depth discussion
of the risk factors, causes, diagnostic processes, preventive measures,
complications, and recommended treatments of the particular condition.
Each patient information topic has an outline on the left to
show the user what is covered in each topic. The user can click on a
section of the outline to go directly to that section of the text.
Each patient information topic offers a "Where to get more
information" section. This section includes links to other UpToDate
topics and other high quality web sites that may assist the patient in
learning more about their condition.
UpToDate patient information topics include
integrated full color pictures, graphics and charts to help the reader
understand difficult medical concepts, as well as extensive referencing
with links to article abstracts.
Can patients access UpToDate's professional-level
topics?
Yes, patients can subscribe to gain full access to UpToDate's
professional-level content. Both one-week and one-month subscriptions
are available. Subscribers receive a user name and password that permits
access to UpToDate from any computer with Internet access.
Can I purchase individual professional-level topics?
Professional-level topics are not available for individual
purchase. Subscriptions provide access to the entire database, so that
you can access all of UpToDate's applicable information
relating to a condition.
Do you offer patient information in other languages?
We do not offer patient information in other languages. The
"Where to get more information" section of each topic often lists
websites that have high-quality information in other languages.
We welcome links to our web site, including links to our home
page, patient information topics, and professional-level previews. See
our linking policy.
Can I contact UpToDate regarding questions about my health?
The discussions in UpToDate patient information are for your general information and are not a substitute for medical advice. You should contact your physician or other healthcare provider with any questions about your health, treatment, or care, or to discuss the information you have read in UpToDate. Please do not contact UpToDate or the physician authors of these materials.
