Tool of the Week: FirstConsult

FirstConsult is an evidence-based clinical information database which is integrated with MDConsult. FirstConsult provides access to information via three primary areas: Medical Topics, Differential Diagnosis, and Procedures.

FirstConsult's Medical Topics area provides information on hundreds of specific diagnoses. Information on each diagnosis is organized to provide concise information including:

• Background: cardinal features, definition/description, epidemiology, and causes/risk factors, etc.
• Screening
• Prevention: primary prevention, secondary prevention, etc.
• Diagnosis: summary approach, clinical presentation, history, physical examination, laboratory evaluation, differential diagnosis, etc.
• Treatment: summary approach, therapeutic options, clinical pearls, medications, non-drug therapy, management in special circumstances, patient and caregiver issues, etc.
• Follow-up
• Patient education
• Resources: evidence references, guidelines, and additional readings.

FirstConsult's Differential Diagnosis area allows users to explore possible diagnoses by selecting key findings and then exploring diagnoses linked to that finding. For example, users who select the clinical feature 'abdominal bloating' may view a table of differential diagnoses organized with columns for different age groups (from baby to senior adult). Possible diagnoses are organized by prevalence within each age group and hyperlinked to a concise clinical benchmarks table (onset, male:female ratio, ethnicity, character, location, pattern, precipitating and relieving factors, clinical course, co-morbidities, procedure results, and test findings.). Diagnoses which should be ruled out urgently are marked with an asterisk, and users may also select diagnoses to create a custom view to compare their clinical features.

FirstConsult's Procedures area provides reference and instructional information for completing clinical procedures. Information on each procedure is organized to provide conside information including:

• Summary: description, cost, etc.
• Indications: indications for procedure, consider consult, etc.
• Contraindications
• Preparation: for patient and physician
• Procedures: summary of technique, clinical pearsl, complications, etc.
• Outcomes: efficacy of procedure, post-procedure care, etc.
• Resources: ask for advice, skill update, etc.

In addition to desktop access, FirstConsult is now available as a iPhone application. FirstConsult's iphone application provides users with handheld access to FirstConsult's medical topics. To install, access FirstConsult from desktop computer and create personal login/password (note: if you already have a personal MDConsult login/password, you can use that account information), then download application on iPhone and login.

All information in FirstConsult, is original and was developed by FirstConsult's team of medical writers and clinical reviewers. Editorial Board members and clinical reviewers review the accuracy and currency of all FirstConsult content. FirstConsult is based on multiple sources including, but not limited to, respected textbooks, peer-reviewed articles, evidence databases, drug alerts, practice guidelines, and position papers reviewed and edited by opinion leaders in clinical practice. The Cochrane Collaboration and the National Guideline Clearinghouse are primary information sources from which FirstConsult information is derived.