MAC/MLA 2001MAC/MLA 2001Eyes on NLMEyes on NLM

October 19, 2001

Ocean City, Maryland

MEDLINEplus MEDLINEplus

• Three years of growth

• Creation and maintenance

• Future plans

MEDLINEplus MEDLINEplus

• Debuted on October 22, 1998– 22 health topics

• Today—comprehensive, user-driven health resource– 500 health topics + drug, encyclopedia,

news and interactive patient education tutorials

– Over 5 million hits per month

JanuaryJanuary: Health News: Health News

February: Interactive TutorialsFebruary: Interactive Tutorials

•Fully narrated

•Animations

•Low-literacy

•Printable summary

•Spanish modules

October: Announcement Lists October: Announcement Lists

MEDLINEplus-NEW

• Announcements

• New Topics

• New links by topic

MEDLINEplus-NIH

• New consumer health resources from the National Institutes of Health

How is it created and How is it created and maintained?maintained?

• Staffing

• Systems technology

• Procedures

• Selection guidelines

Library Managers

IT Manager

Programmers

Public Services Mgr

Reference

Cataloging

Selections

Web design

librarian

Public Services

Systems Librarians

Contract librarians

MEDLINEplus SystemMEDLINEplus System

•Database of records (Oracle)

•Web-based input system (Cold Fusion)

•Authorities and rules

•Review and approval process

•Remote access

•HTML generated nightly for Web

MEDLINEplus at

http://medlineplus.gov

Input System

(Cold Fusion)

Static HTML Files

Oracle Database for

input / maintenance

Nightly

build

Input system interface

Creating new topicsCreating new topics• People want information on very

specific topics (their topic)• Look at number of requests in search

log• Look at length of pages during topic

review• Look at characteristics of pages (e.g.,

number of specific conditions

Topic Name

MeSH

1

2

3

4

5

6

Site selection and record creationSite selection and record creation

Selection GuidelinesSelection Guidelines

•Linked from “About MEDLINEplus”•Emphasis on government health organizations

–NIH collaboration

•Must be authoritative, accurate and well maintained•NLM contacts organizations about

–Technical issues (frames, registration)–Medical advisory boards–Creation and “updated” dates

Name / URL

Description

Display to public?

Topic page(s) site should appear on

Type of site

Subcategories

Organization

Maintaining QualityMaintaining Quality

•Check daily/weekly for new material

•Review topics every 6 months

•Check daily for broken links

New features--release processNew features--release process• Library side

– Identifies need (feedback and usability testing)– Develops user requirement

• Programming side– Develops specification– Programs test system

• Both sides– Develop test plans– Test, fix problems, release

Future PlansFuture Plans• Enhance drug information with American

Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists database

• Spanish-language version of site• Site for seniors• Additional content – interactive tutorials• Data sharing – state and local information