Keeping Current with the Health Sciences
Need Help?
Keeping Current
Why should I keep up with the literature?
- Stay informed
- Science changes rapidly
- Informs your solutions (what to do and what not to do)
- Don't reinvent the wheel
- Keep up with the lingo
- Homework assignments
For Scholarly Literature, Journal Articles
Methods of keeping current with scholarly literature:
Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of options.
- NEJM Journal WatchSummaries and commentary of over 250 scientific and medical journals' articles.
- Journal TOCsSign up to search in your chosen journals and, optionally, receive email alerts when new issues are published in the journals you follow.
- Read by QxMDApp and website for keeping up with your favorite journals on PubMed. Select UW as your institutional affiliation in Settings to easily get to full text.
- Altmetric BookmarkletFind the altmetrics for your articles. Request notifications of new mentions in social media, news sources, and policy documents.
- Set up Search AlertsMost databases allow you to set up search alerts that will email you new literature published in the past day, week, etc. Follow the instructions linked here to set up search alerts:
- PubMed Search Alerts
- Embase Search Alerts
- CINAHL Search Alerts
- Web of Science Search Alerts
- Google Scholar Search Alerts
- More Database Guides
- Try Googling the name of the database and search alert to find more instructions for setting up alerts!
- PubMed Search Alerts
For Point-of-Care
Methods of keeping current with point-of-care and patient care developments:
Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of options.
- DynaMedex: Follow a TopicFollowing DynaMedex topics allows you to receive email notification when they have been updated. In addition, when signed in with your personal user account, your followed topics and alerts are displayed on the Home screen.
- BMJ Best Practice UpdatesReview recent updates to BMJ Best Practice by importance or specialty.
- Essential Evidence Plus (EE+)Sign up for Monday through Friday Daily POEM (Patient-Oriented Evidence that Matters) email alerts.
For Grants
Methods of keeping current with grant opportunities:
Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of options.
- Guide to Grant ResourcesBy the UW Health Sciences Library.
For Research Centers
Methods of keeping current with research centers:
Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of options.
- ITHSSubscribe to ITHS (Institute of Translational Health Sciences) News & Events.
- ARCH CenterSubscribe to email updates from the ARCH (Anti-Racism and Community Health) Center.
- WHOSubscribe to newsletters from the WHO (World Health Organization).
For News
Methods of keeping current with the news:
Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of options.
- Guide to NewsGuide by UW Libraries. Includes access to the:
RSS Feeds
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Feeds allow folks to create their own dashboard of up-to-date information. Many databases and discovery tools will allow you to set up your RSS feed by clicking on the RSS link or button and following the instructions. Customize your feed by subscribing to different resources like NEJM Journal Watch!
Typical RSS icon:
- What are RSS Feeds?From Microsoft Support.
Helpful Links
- How to keep up with the scientific literatureScience.org article by Elisabeth Pain.