ISI is up and running again or it should be. I was able to access it from my computer, at Bio-Med, this morning. Let me know if you hear of any more problems with this database.
Nicole
Due to a monograph shifting project, the pre-shelves for books is temporarily located at the East side of the middle aisle of stacks (in practical terms, that means it is next to the oversize NLMs). Please contact Steve for further shift information.
Thanks,
Bob
Access to ISI Web of Science is currently down, even though we're paid up (through CIC). Our friends at Wilson are looking into this and we'll let you know when things clear up.
Thanks,
Bob
Below is an announcement regarding the new Ovid interface that is linked on our home page.
Jim
OVID Technologies (MEDLINE, CINAHL, etc.) released a major change to its search interface on Tuesday, July 12th. The basic search functions of the database remain the same, but Ovid has updated its look and usability.
Classic features such as “Explode”, “Focus” and “Scope Note” are carried over, along with some lesser known tools such as the “Contexts” button. This button appears on the subject heading “Tree” page and when clicked, displays all instances of any term within the taxonomy. Convenient “U of MN Find-It” buttons link to full text options and MNCat holdings.
In addition, the new interface offers some new functions:
• "Find Similar" - a feature similar to Pubmed's "Related Article" link
• "Find Citation" - a feature similar to Pubmed's "Single Citation Matcher"
• "Find Citing Articles" - a feature that links to the full text of citing articles. Please note: Ovid's "Find Citing Articles" only links to articles from journals that are available through Journals@Ovid. For more comprehensive citation searching, use ISI's Web of Science available through the http://www.biomed.lib.umn.edu/bms.html page under “W.”
Your web browser version may need upgrading to support forthcoming new features on Ovid. For best results, we recommend the following minimum browser versions:
• Internet Explorer 5.x and above
• Netscape 6.x and above
If you have difficulties with the new Ovid interface over the next few weeks, please report your problems to medref@umn.edu (our email reference service), or call the Reference Desk at 612-626-3260.
Below is an announcement regarding the new Ovid interface that is linked on our home page.
Jim
OVID Technologies (MEDLINE, CINAHL, etc.) released a major change to its search interface on Tuesday, July 12th. The basic search functions of the database remain the same, but Ovid has updated its look and usability.
Classic features such as “Explode”, “Focus” and “Scope Note” are carried over, along with some lesser known tools such as the “Contexts” button. This button appears on the subject heading “Tree” page and when clicked, displays all instances of any term within the taxonomy. Convenient “U of MN Find-It” buttons link to full text options and MNCat holdings.
In addition, the new interface offers some new functions:
• "Find Similar" - a feature similar to Pubmed's "Related Article" link
• "Find Citation" - a feature similar to Pubmed's "Single Citation Matcher"
• "Find Citing Articles" - a feature that links to the full text of citing articles. Please note: Ovid's "Find Citing Articles" only links to articles from journals that are available through Journals@Ovid. For more comprehensive citation searching, use ISI's Web of Science available through the http://www.biomed.lib.umn.edu/bms.html page under “W.”
Your web browser version may need upgrading to support forthcoming new features on Ovid. For best results, we recommend the following minimum browser versions:
• Internet Explorer 5.x and above
• Netscape 6.x and above
If you have difficulties with the new Ovid interface over the next few weeks, please report your problems to medref@umn.edu (our email reference service), or call the Reference Desk at 612-626-3260.
In case anyone is interested, here’s a synopsis of my shpiel on medical coding and finding healthcare costs from last week's reference meeting. This can also serve as a cheat sheet if you get a code question at the desk. Feel free to correct or update anything I got wrong/missed/mangled!
Liz
Coding Systems
ICD-9-CM – International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification.
Reference WB15 I57 2001
• Codes for diagnoses and procedures
• Mainly used to keep data about activity in hospitals
• Developed and maintained by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)
• Format:
nnn.nn (Diagnosis codes) – example: 039.48
nn.nn (Procedure codes) – example: 39.48
CPT-4 – Current Procedural Terminology, 4th ed
Reference W39 C976 2005
• Codes for procedures
• Used for reimbursement from public and private health plans
• Developed and maintained by the American Medical Association (AMA)
• Also known as HCPCS Level I
• Format: nnnnn – example: 57894
HCPCS Level II – Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System
Reference WT39 M489
• Codes for services and supplies not covered by CPT codes
• Examples: ambulance services, durable medical goods, orthotics, etc.
• Used for reimbursement from public and private health plans
• Developed and maintained by the CMS
• Alphanumeric format: xnnnn – example: L5020
DRG – Diagnosis Related Groups
Reference WB15 D778 1998
• Codes for diagnoses, based on ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes – 511 different groups
• Used for reimbursement:
a. Idea that clinically similar patients (demographic, diagnostic, therapeutic attributes) would consume hospital resources in a similar fashion
b. Hospitals reimbursed a flat rate based on DRG – what hospitalization is expected to cost – also known as Prospective Payment System (PPS)
• Maintained by the CMS
• Format: nnn – example: 127
Resources to find cost data
Most of the cost data you’ll find is related to a procedure (linked to a CPT code.) The CMS has a fee schedule of what they will reimburse for a procedure, and they have assigned each procedure a number of Relative Value Units (RVU) to reflect the difficulty of a procedure as related to other procedures. Other variables are factored in, such as the geographic area (procedures are generally more expensive in certain parts of the country.)
• Medical fees in the United States: nationwide charges for medicine, surgery, laboratory, radiology and allied health services
Reference W80 M489 2005
o Lists current RVUs and Medicare reimbursement amounts.
o Includes privately-collected data on what physicians are actually charging (50th, 75th, 90th percentile)
o Arranged by CPT code
• Physician’s Fee and Coding Guide
Reference W80 AA1 P5 2005
o Lists current RVUs and Medicare reimbursement amounts.
o Arranged by CPT code
• The DRG handbook: comparative clinical and financial benchmarks
Reference WX16 D778
o Detailed financial and statistical information about the top Diagnosis Related Groups
o Arranged by DRG number
(Biomed reference quick links -> Government Resources ->)
• Physician Fee Schedule
o Most current, but divided into about 10 PDFs so it’s difficult to search
• Medicare Outpatient Payment
o Outpatient procedures only, a bit out of date (data for 2004), but in one PDF so easier to search
Information about more abstract costs (i.e.: What does a smoker cost a health plan?) is best found in Medline. Use the economics subheading (/ec) with the condition and the “Cost and Cost Analysis” MeSH.
Hey all,
Just an FYI. If we get calls/requests from anyone who is not a University of Minnesota students/staff/faculty about permission to use any of our handouts in classes, coursepaks, etc., Charles Spetland is the one who is handling these requests. Just forward to him all the contact information and what is being requested and he has a "form" letter that he generates and sends out. For the most part, the U Libraries is very generous about letting others use our materials, this just formalizes the process and makes sure that there is no questions about use permission. If you would like to see a copy of the letter, just let me know.
Katherine
Recently there have been several questions about accessing the most current issues of Circulation, and other Highwire Free titles. There are two links to Circulation, one for Highwire Free Press and another for Journals@OVID. We have access to the most current issues of Circulation only through Journals@OVID; there is a one year embargo on the Highwire Free Press articles. However, if you try to access articles published within the last year through Highwire you get this confusing message: Your institution's online subscription to "Circulation" has EXPIRED as of 22 Apr 2005. Don't fret, just steer users to the Journals@OVID link and they should get what they need. Feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.
Nicole
FYI -- this announcement was in my email box this morning:
Ovid recommends upgrading your browser to ensure that displays are optimal in the newest release of the Ovid Web Gateway.
Ovid web applications require the following minimum browsers:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
Netscape Navigator 7.0
Mozilla Firefox 1.0
The Ovid applications that are covered by these standards are: Ovid Web Gateway, SilverPlatter, WebSPIRS 5.0 and 5.1, Ovid LinkSolver, and Ovid SearchSolver. Ovid products require that JavaScript and Cookies are enabled.
The current browser versions are available from the following websites for download by PC and MAC users:
For Microsoft Internet Explorer: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ (PC only*)
For Netscape Navigator: http://browser.netscape.com (PC and MAC)
For Mozilla Firefox: http://www.getfirefox.com (PC and MAC)
*Additional Information for Mac users: Microsoft no longer supports Internet Explorer for the Mac, therefore Ovid is unable to provide support for their browser. You will need to choose either Netscape Navigator or Mozilla Firefox.
Ovid is committed to providing full support for Safari on the Ovid Online platform, to meet the needs of our MAC users. At this time, we have not been able to confirm compatibility with current versions of Safari. We will continue to update our requirements as appropriate on http://www.ovid.com/site/support/web_config.jsp.
For assistance, please contact Ovid Technical Support at support@ovid.com.