The University of Vemont Libraries: Bailey/Howe Library

From the National Library of Medicine, PubMed Health “offers up-to-date information on diseases, conditions, drugs, treatment options, and healthy living, with a special focus on comparative effectiveness research from institutions around the world. PubMed Health is produced by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, a division of the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health.”

While it is similar to MedlinePlus, the comprehensive database of consumer health information from the NLM, PubMed Health offers more information regarding comparative effectiveness research of treatments. For a more detailed analysis of the differences between the two products, see this newsletter article from the Vanderbilt University’s Eskind Biomedical Library.

The National Library of Medicine has decided to phase out its support for all Go Local projects. The goal of Vermont Go Local is to link MedlinePlus (an NLM consumer health database) health topics  to Vermont health care providers and facilities. Vermont Go Local is a joint project of the National Library of Medicine (NLM), University of Vermont Dana Medical Library, the FAHC Frymoyer Community Health Resource Center, and the United Ways of Vermont, Vermont 2-1-1; we have been partners since 2007.

Since the project’s conception in 2001, NLM has monitored and reviewed the consumer usage and has noticed a gradual declined over the years because of the availability of similar information on the Internet.  These sites include provider-level directory information and can collect user reviews that Go Local cannot.

Without the support of NLM, the Dana Library has decided to discontinue Vermont Go Local by the end of 2010.  We look forward to providing other resources that will substitute for this important consumer health information on our library website.  The Go Local staff members will keep you informed of the exact date when we will discontinue the Vermont Go Local link.

Thank you for your continued interest in this consumer database.

MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) health information database for the community, now has a mobile version (http://m.medlineplus.gov) that allows you to easily access this popular resource on an iPhone, Blackberry or other hand held device, anytime, anywhere. For more information, see the NLM’s FAQ that includes set up instructions.