Specialist search engine for GPs launched

Tags: AIM Google GP GPs Liverpool

05 Oct 2006

A new medical search engine for GPs called SearchMedica was launched yesterday by publishers CMPMedica, who publish the GP newspaper Pulse.

The aim of the free search engine is to help GPs find medical information online, with search results linked directly to the keywords searched for.

Lindsay Cook, managing director of CMP information’s specialist markets division told E-Health Insider Primary Care: “SearchMedica has been set up using expertise from Pulse, the GPs’ best-read weekly paper, with major input from growing numbers of GPs daily. You can search the entire web, NHS sites or medical sites chosen by GPs. Search results are independent and ranked according to relevance for GPs.”

CMPMedica claim that SearchMedica is unique because it is the first medical search engine to be created and developed with the assistance of GPs. Search results are organised by relevance from what GPs choose as the most useful sites for referrals.

Software from search technologies provider Convera spiders the internet and corporate servers, sorts the results into groups and lists them by categories such as patient information, clinical evidence or guidelines.

Cook added: “The internet has already made a dramatic difference to the way GPs source information for themselves and their patients, but our contact with GPs over recent years has alerted us to the need for a dedicated search engine to help them get the information they want quickly and easily.”

“SearchMedica is a bespoke search engine that gives GPs the information they need quickly and easily – and is something they can trust. Rather than using conventional search engines such as Google, which brings thousands of results, SearchMedica will bring up only a select few categorised for convenience.”

Approximately 1600 GPs have been involved in the advisory panel responsible for building and testing the search engine, and over 75% of them welcomed the idea of a search engine devoted specifically to GPs.

The search engine was launched by celebrity GP Dr Rosemary Leonard, who is resident doctor on BBC Breakfast, was a member of the advisory panel.

She told EHI Primary Care: “SearchMedica is a wonderful resource for GPs and I am happy to endorse it. It is completely geared towards GP needs and will help to save time in an increasingly pressurised position. When patients come in with something they’ve picked up from the internet, we can now check for ourselves faster and offer the patient the re-assurances they need.”

Medical students Kate Softer and Oliver Thomas from Royal Free & University College added: “It will help us to get medical research notes we need much faster and add to the knowledge we pick up from our textbooks. It’s a great resource for anyone involved in medical practice.”

Ian Eckert, director of internet development at CMP told EHI Primary Care: “Every new site is tested against a criteria set by our editorial team before inclusion in SearchMedica which looks at the relevance, authority and reliability of the websites being put forward to us. Our list of ‘medical sites chosen by GPs’ is exactly that. It currently contains around 1,200 websites and we hope to see that increase over time.”

EHI Primary Care tested the search engine against Google and found that SearchMedica did indeed cut out non-relevant links compared to Google.

Dr Paul Bracey, a GP in Liverpool said: “SearchMedica is an excellent idea and it is great to find a search engine that is specifically for GPs. I have no doubt I will use it almost every day and my colleagues feel the same, after I showed them the site.”

CMPMedica now aim to start marketing the search engine in GP publications and if it is a success, will consider launching it overseas. The site will soon host advertisements from medical companies and may include sponsored results, if there is enough demand for this.

Link

http://www.searchmedica.co.uk

Reader's Comments

Search engine specifically for GPs

paula.elliott@trafford.nhs.uk

11 Oct 06 09:10

I was interested to read the article describing a search engine designed specifically for GPs and was most surprised to find I wasn't reading about the National Library for Health (previously known as the National Electronic Library for Health). This free internet resource has been providing very similar services, and more, to healthcare professionals for the last 5 or 6 years. Used in conjunction with an NHS Athens username and password (also free), thousands of full text journal articles are available too. If GPs are having trouble finding information, all they need to do is contact their local Primary Care library service and professional library and information staff can point them in the right direction!

Search engine for GPs

pat.baker@echeshire-tr.nwest.nhs.uk

11 Oct 06 12:10

I would like to endorse Paula's comments entirely. Surprisingly, GPs seem to have more faith in commercial websites.

User unfriendly

11 Oct 06 13:10

This is a very different service to NLH or NELH. This is a peer refereed web search, whilst the NLH and NELH only use their own resources. There are also the fundamental nhs libary problems. It operates accross two sites - www.nelh.nhs.uk and www.library.nhs.uk for no apparent reason. The latter greets you with a login box which will send away most of the users. Those that persist will find a links section at the bottom of the page. If you try to click on the general practice specialist libary you find it does not exist. The available resources are also very limited. Forgien drug names, no. BMJ, no. Lots of non clinical journals bought in a bundle, yes. I am fortunate to be a part time graduate student. My online access to Bath Uni libary gives me a lot more access than NHS libraries. Personally I will stick to searchmedica for medical test and images.google.com for dermatology, at least until NHS libaries gain the budget and leadership they so desparately need.

User Unfriendly?

kieran.lamb@fade.nhs.uk

12 Oct 06 12:10

I agree that this engine adds something to that offered by the National Library for Health as a more focused tool than Google et al. and for this we should truly welcome its development. For quick focussed enquiries it will provide 'good enough' evidence if the user of the engine is sufficiently web savvy to search accurately and precisely.

However the fact remains that it is a search engine that links to web resources that however well chosen for inclusion are in themselves not peer reviewed. To rely on sites in this engine is to listen to 'Chinese Whispers'. Engage the usual dose of healthy skepticism and you should be alright.

With regard to the lack of clinical journals on NLH, the NHS we are told is the worlds third biggest employer many of these are not clinicians yet still have the same need to have their lifelong learning supported. The bundle of journals is not perfect but then none is. Where there is a gap local action can plug it, in Cheshire and Merseyside the local health librarians have pooled their collective resources to purchase from 2007 the BMJ online collection to meet a perceived gap in national content. NHS libraries will never match the spending power of a University Library on an individual basis but go and look at the University's shelves. Collectively NHS Library collections dwarf those available to any individual at any individual academic institution and are provided by those with a deep knowledge of their subject area. Plus give your local librarian a call and you will discover they will take the strain and guide you through the information maze with a bespoke service tailored to your needs.

A word of warning on the use of images.google.com and that word is 'Copyright' unless the image has a notice identifying it as being created under Creative Commons or Copyleft arrangements it is illegal to use the image without permission. My advice is therefore only use image libraries to which you have licensed like the NHS Image Library or Images MD (through you've guessed it NLH).

Key thing is to use the right tool for the right job. Neither is right or wrong just different, just don't trust any of them!