HealthContentAdvisors

Archive for the ‘Elsevier’ Category

Medical Reality Shows for the Pros

• Posted April 23rd 2008
• Comments (0)
• by Janice

I just took a look at the recently enhanced Procedures Consult, one of the online clinical reference products in Elsevier’s Consult line.  Procedures Consult builds on some of Elsevier’s medical reference texts and is supplemented with custom—produced animations and video content that enhance the textual and still-image content.

The videos offer step by step demonstrations on real patients of how to perform certain procedures, such as defibrillation or shoulder arthroscopy (the number of procedures continues to grow). Procedures Consult includes online testing that reinforces the understanding of the anesthesia, emergency medicine, orthopaedic and internal medicine procedures that are included in the reference tool.

This is a case where the addition of video content adds obvious value to the reference content, compared to some products where the video element consists of nothing more than talking heads. Even an amateur can appreciate how useful the video content will be to physicians and medical students who need to study new procedures or refresh their knowledge of infrequently used procedures.

Procedures Consult may not capture the imagination of the consumer-focused investment firms eager to pounce on ad-supported consumer-centric online health products, but it represents an intelligent application of technology that greatly enhances the value of information to the audience it serves. Furthermore, by virtue of highlighting industry-standard patient safety guidelines within the product, Procedures Consult becomes an important tool in the performance improvement efforts of hospitals. Performance improvement may not sound leading edge and exciting, but it represents real dollars to health care provider institutions and better outcomes for patients.