Abstract

The OvidSP® information service is described. OvidSP offers a unified platform for access to a wide range of information resources (e-journals, e-books, etc.) to professionals in the health-care and medical areas. OvidSP is the result of the evolution of the previous SilverPlatter and Ovid platforms, based on a detailed market research to identify and satisfy the information management needs of the user communities. OvidSP also provides additional information retrieval capabilities by means of Ovid Universal SearchTM , giving simultaneous access to databases from other providers like PubMed, SpringerLink, Ebsco-Host, ScienceDirect, Wiley InterScience, UpToDate, etc., as well as to internal information resources like the library opac, and clinical decision-support tools.

Abstract

The proliferation of new communication technologies and the numerous websites that provide health information are a source of unimaginable new possibilities for improving health information and care due to their interactivity, ability to customize relationships with users, and ease of content publishing and updates. However, the particular sensitivity of health information for the health and lives of individuals may pose risks that must be foreseen and curbed. In its third edition, the Jornada Medes analyzes the evolution of the dissemination of scientific knowledge through new technologies. The meeting addressed the process of transforming the printed journal to the electronic one and the various ways in which this process happens. How new technologies are applied to complex editorial processess, and the respective advantages and disadvantages, were examined.

Abstract

The implementation of electronic medical records has been of paramount importance in facilitating the access and availability of information in the medical treatment of patients. However, because different centers and areas have adopted heterogeneous information models and technical solutions to handle medical records there may be a risk when the patient requests medical assistance in a jurisdiction other than the one in which he normally seeks medical treatment. The international standards for medical records offer common models to organize information and ensure the exchange and interoperability between technical solutions. This paper analyzes the adoption of the main technical standards (ISO 13606 and HL7) in the Hcdsns project, developed by the Spanish Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad.

Abstract

The medical information (MI) function within the pharmaceutical industry plays a significant role in the provision of scientific answers for patients and healthcare professionals. The purpose of this study is to identify the current structure, organization, and functions of MI departments in Spain. Sixty local and international pharmaceutical companies based in Spain were invited to participate in this study between May and July 2019. An online 34–item questionnaire developed by the AMIFE MI Working Group was distributed to the companies. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics using response frequencies. A total of 44 responses from 60 surveys (73%) were received. More than half of the respondents were employed in international companies based in Europe (57%, n = 25). Seventy-one percent (n = 31) of the companies had 100 to 1,000 employees in Spain. Most respondents declared that they had an MI department in their company (73%, n = 32), with most (53%) having two to five employees working on MI. Most MI (n = 50) specialists had a biomedical academic degree (predominantly pharmacy, biology, and medicine). MI departments were involved in many functions, the most common being answering enquiries (100%), handling drug information requests (97%), preparing written responses (94%), and literature services for external use (77%). The mean annual volume of MI enquiries was 2,301 (median 1,100). The results of this survey contribute to a better understanding of MI departments in Spanish pharmaceutical companies, as well as their functions and responsibilities, and could help identify opportunities and areas for improvement.