best medical research websites

Reference management. Clean and simple.

The top list of research databases for medicine and healthcare

3. Cochrane Library

4. pubmed central (pmc), 5. uptodate, frequently asked questions about research databases for medicine and healthcare, related articles.

Web of Science and Scopus are interdisciplinary research databases and have a broad scope. For biomedical research, medicine, and healthcare there are a couple of outstanding academic databases that provide true value in your daily research.

Scholarly databases can help you find scientific articles, research papers , conference proceedings, reviews and much more. We have compiled a list of the top 5 research databases with a special focus on healthcare and medicine.

PubMed is the number one source for medical and healthcare research. It is hosted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and provides bibliographic information including abstracts and links to the full text publisher websites for more than 28 million articles.

• Coverage: around 35 million items
• Abstracts: ✔
• Related articles: ✔
• References: ✘
• Cited by: ✘
• Links to full text: ✔
• Export formats: XML, NBIB

Pro tip: Use a reference manager like Paperpile to keep track of all your sources. Paperpile integrates with PubMed and many popular databases. You can save references and PDFs directly to your library using the Paperpile buttons and later cite them in thousands of citation styles:

EMBASE (Excerpta Medica Database) is a proprietary research database that also includes PubMed. It can also be accessed by other database providers such as Ovid .

• Coverage: 38 million articles
• References: ✔
• Cited by: ✔
• Full text: ✔ (requires institutional subscription to EMBASE and individual publishers)
• Export formats: RIS

The Cochrane Library is best know for its systematic reviews. There are 53 review groups around the world that ensure that the published reviews are of high-quality and evidence based. Articles are updated over time to reflect new research.

• Coverage: several thousand high quality reviews
• Full text: ✔
• Export formats: RIS, BibTeX

PubMed Central is the free, open access branch of PubMed. It includes full-text versions for all indexed papers. You might also want to check out its sister site Europe PMC .

• Coverage: more than 8 million articles
• Export formats: APA, MLA, AMA, RIS, NBIB

Like the Cochrane Library, UpToDate provides detailed reviews for clinical topics. Reviews are constantly updated to provide an up-to-date view.

• Coverage: several thousand articles from over 420 peer-reviewed journals
• Related articles: ✘
• Full text: ✔ (requires institutional subscription)
• Export formats: ✘

PubMed is the number one source for medical and healthcare research. It is hosted at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and provides bibliographic information including abstracts and links to the full text publisher websites for more than 35 million items.

EMBASE (Excerpta Medica Database) is a proprietary research database that also includes in its corpus PubMed. It can also be accessed by other database providers such as Ovid.

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MEDLINE is the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) premier bibliographic database that contains references to journal articles in life sciences, with a concentration on biomedicine. See the MEDLINE Overview page for more information about MEDLINE.

MEDLINE content is searchable via PubMed and constitutes the primary component of PubMed, a literature database developed and maintained by the NLM National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).

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Top 10 medical websites for doctors, dr. sean fahimi.

• August 28, 2023 Update

Where Physicians Get Their Information

Doctors use the internet all the time to gather medical information and to investigate new procedures. This trend has grown quite a bit in the past decade. Finding the right online resources is now part of most doctors’ routines. However, there is an overwhelming amount of information online. This can be even more of an issue for doctors, who are expected to find crucial information in the least amount of time possible.

It is easy to find reliable and unreliable information on the internet. The problem is that some of these sites are so well-designed they can be deceiving. It is the reason why I spent time researching genuine sites where doctors can find facts. Here are the top ten sites. I already did another article on the top ten online sites for patients. You can check it out.

Comparison table for the top 10 medical websites website statistics

Summary comparison of the top 10 websites for physicians

Visit PubMed

PubMed is a medical website from the US National Library of Medicine that is located at the National Institutes of Health. On this site, doctors will find abstracts and articles, which are peer-reviewed, on various medical topics. The reading is designed with medical experts in mind; doctors will easily gain insight into any new procedures or treatment options. It will help them expand their knowledge based on particular medical topics. The site can also be a good place to refer patients who visit your practice to help them make an informed decision.

Simple Searches with Detailed Results

This online resource comes with both simple and comprehensive search features. Entering key aspects of the subject in the search window is used to conduct a simple search. PubMed will then translate the simple search and add relevant medical subject headings (MeSH), field names, synonyms, and Boolean operators. This helps to enhance the search formulation for the doctors.

For an optimal search on this site, you must understand MEDLINE, its core component. Understanding the MeSH-controlled vocabulary utilized to index all MEDLINE articles is especially important. You may also need complex search strategies such as proper use of limits, using field names, and much more. In short, the more you use this online resource, the better you get.

2. Medscape

Visit Medscape

Medscape is a high-quality doctor website that is targeted at medical professionals. Since its launch in 1995, the portal has received accolades from physicians and the information sector.

Since it launched, Medscape immediately gained popularity in the medical world as a starting point for high-quality peer-reviewed data. Besides that, users can also access other value-added services. As proof of how high quality it is, CBS bought a one-third stake in the company. It also has a strategic alliance with AOL to expand its reach in the medical world.

Access to Peer-Reviewed Journals, Publications, and More

One of its core roles is as an information aggregator. Users who register free on the site can access about 50 peer-reviewed journals and full-text articles. They will also gain access to professional trade publications, medical textbooks, and periodicals on medical news.

On the homepage, you will find the latest news in the medical world and links to treatment updates, practice guidelines, conference schedules, a medical dictionary, and even patient resources. Doctors can view summaries of the latest peer-reviewed research from well-known medical journals such as The Lancet, JAMA, and the New England Journal. You will even find a version of the MEDLINE, AIDSLINE, and TOXLINE databases. There is also a drug database, which you can use without leaving the site. The site also creates unique content that is presented in seven peer-reviews online journals on the site. Another unique feature is “Next Day Summaries,” which summarize reports on presentations made at leading medical conferences.

Although this site is full of information from nearly every aspect of medicine, it is quite easy to navigate. No matter what page you are currently on, each site section can be accessed with one or two clicks. Searching at the bottom of each page allows users to search for information.

Visit WebMD

WebMD is an American company primarily known for publishing information on human health. The site is one of the top doctor websites as ranked by unique monthly visitors. The site offers services to medical professionals and clients as well. It publishes WebMD the Magazine, which is a patient-focused publication found in 85% of all waiting rooms in the US. They are also the company behind Medscape, the trusted online resource many US and global medical experts use.

Engage With Other Doctors

They have a discussion board where doctors and patients can freely interact. This can help a doctor to provide insight to patients and gain some by following various discussions. For doctors who wish to gain a summary of a new medical condition, you can quickly look it up on WebMD. Besides that, you can use their database of drugs to gain insight into any new drugs released into the market. Most of their articles usually contain links to peer-reviewed facts that you can use to make informed conclusions.

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4. World Health Organization

Visit the WHO

The WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that focuses on public health internationally. It also runs the https://www.who.int website. 61 nations have signed the organization’s constitution, but it operates in every region worldwide.

Since its establishment, the site has provided much detailed information on diseases such as HIV, Ebola, Malaria, TB, and various other illnesses and fields. In general, if you are a medical doctor concerned with public health, this might be the most useful online resource in the world.

World Wide Data

Data, fact sheets, photos, and medical publications are on this site. They have a particularly comprehensive section on Ebola. There are very few medical experts with experience with Ebola. Thus, it might be worth visiting the site to learn more about the illness. For instance, you will learn about the protective measures to take and the symptoms you should check for and care for. Best of all, you will get to learn which regions of the world might be facing an Ebola outbreak. This is especially important for medical doctors who travel often. It will help you know how wary you should be and the protective measures you must take.

Besides providing facts and data on serious public health emergencies, the site also has a valuable news section. This section provides information on various events that are happening in the medical world. For instance, you will get to learn about various trends taking place in the world. This includes issues concerning child mortality, which is a major issue in some places in the world. These news sections can serve as a useful resource for those who are researching major public health issues globally.

5. UpToDate

Visit the UpToDate

UpToDate is an evidence-based resource authored by physicians to support the decision-making process. Thus, it ensures that physicians make the right choice at the point of care. Over 6,500 globally renowned physician editors, authors, and peer-reviewers maintain the UpToDate resource. They use a thorough editorial process to ensure that they compile the most up-to-date medical data into evidence-based, trustworthy recommendations that have been shown to help improve the quality of care.

Information Leading to Improvements in Healthcare Industry

The resource is used by over 1.3 million clinicians in more than 187 nations and over 90% of major medical centers in the US. As a result, they can offer the best medical care. There have been over 80 research studies that have confirmed the widespread use of the resource leading to improved medical care. For instance, according to the UpToDate site, it has been shown to help cut down hospital stays, lower mortality, and reduce adverse complications.

This valuable online resource has been around for over 25 years. In that time, it has managed to earn the trust of those in the medical community. It is so trusted because it does not accept any funding from the pharmaceutical industry.

The UpToDate online topics get over 43 million views each month. A survey in 2016 found that doctors found answers to their questions 94% of the time. The resource covers 25 specialties and over 11,000 topics, each answering many questions.

6. ClinicalKey

Visit the ClinicalKey

ClinicalKey is a medical database tool owned by Elsevier . It offers access to a huge medical library, which Elsevier also publishes. The Global Clinical Reference team at Elsevier created the database. To create the database, over 2000 medical doctors globally were consulted over the course of about two years.

This resource has the sole goal of offering answers to clinical queries. It targets medical doctors, health institutions, schools, and universities. The resource also exists as a mobile app for both Android and iOS devices.

Thousands of Videos, Journals, and Textbooks

Those who use this site gain access to over 600 journals, 17,000 medical videos, and 1,000 books. The site uses taxonomy tags and other filtering tools such as journals or by the book, clinical trials, images, or the MEDLINE database to conduct searches. The site allows users to export images, citations, and copyright details into PP presentations.

ClinicalKey emphasizes that all its data is evidence-based. Thus, you will find numerous evidence-based resources such as Goldman’s Cecil Medicine, Conn’s Current Therapy, etc. The site itself is also quite easy to navigate. It has a simple design and color scheme that makes it easy for users to find what they need from the site easily.

7. MedicineNet

Visit the MedicineNet

MedicineNet.com is a medical information site owned by WebMD. It offers newsletters, medical information, and much more to readers. All the content found here is of high quality; board-certified doctors created it. The content is great for those who wish to get an insightful look into various health topics.

The site is quite easy to navigate. You will find a useful navigation bar and options to browse news or various topics. Additionally, there is an option to go through the most popular searches on offer. This site has abundant data but is well organized into bulleted lists, subtopics, and multimedia to engage the users. To ensure everything is as clear as possible, there are links in the text that lead to even more information.

From a design perspective, visual design can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. All the various elements appear to vie for the user’s attention. Thus, it is important to have a specific topic in mind to avoid losing focus when using the site. Despite this, you can expect to get high-quality information from this site. Articles are well-referenced, and medical experts write and review all the information found here.

High-Quality Articles from Credible Authors

A good sign of the high quality of the information here is that the articles usually contain the author’s credentials and name. As a medical expert, you can always contact them to get further details on any topic. Additionally, most of the topics have been reviewed within the past two years. This shows that information on this site is often updated according to new research.

8. American Medical Association

Visit American Medical Association

The American Medical Association is an association created for doctors in the US. It aims to promote the art of medicine and science for the good of public health. The AMA medical website is a good place to start if you are looking for the latest medical developments.

Great for Policy and Legislation

The AMA website disseminates scientific and health information to the medical community and the public in general. The site is a good place to keep abreast of the latest developments in policy and legislation in medicine. It often represents the medical community in the US Congress and other government agencies. The agency plays a crucial role in setting the standards for medical schools and various internship programs. If you are a medical expert who wishes to understand quack remedies and charlatans in the medical world, this is the right place to be.

This is a great site for medical experts looking for information on various topics regarding the medical profession. For instance, it provides details on how doctors can manage the financial aspect of the practice. Additionally, this will be a useful resource for doctors wishing to establish a practice in rural America. The site does more than cover advances in medicine and associated legislation. The site covers all aspects of a doctor’s profession. If you are a young doctor who does not understand any aspect of medicine, this site will prove to be quite useful.

Medical professionals with years of experience write all the information found here. Thus, reading the data written here is like getting wisdom from those who came before you in the medical world. This way, you can avoid any potential pitfalls that might arise.

9. National Institutes Of Health (NIH)

Visit National Institutes Of Health (NIH)

The NIH is an agency run by the US government. It exists to conduct medical research and is administered by the Health and human services department. It comprises about 27 centers and institutes dedicated to medical research. This is an important resource for doctors in various fields of medicine. It provides important peer-reviewed information that is accessible for free. No matter which field of medicine you are in, you will find the NIH site quite useful. It aims to understand the cause of disease, prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and control.

Research Hub for Medical Professionals

The NIH often engages in research projects and thereafter publishes the finding online after careful review. This way, medical doctors in the US can grow their skills and knowledge thanks to ongoing research. As proof of how reliable its research is, the NIH has been involved in about 17 medical discoveries. These discoveries have helped revolutionize healthcare in the US and worldwide. If you are a doctor looking for breakthrough research, you will find the NIH quite useful.

10. Epocrates

Visit the Epocrates

Epocrates is a mobile reference app that provides medical reference data on disease, diagnostics, drugs, and patient management. The app is designed with doctors and other professionals in the medical world in mind. Users can check drug dosing, drug interactions, medical news, disease management, and disease diagnosis.

Information is sourced from authoritative sources such as the FDA, configured digitally to help with decision-making during patient care. Other functions of the app include the ability to identify pills. It also has hundreds of risk assessment tools, therapeutic recommendations, and coding look-ups. In general, if you are a doctor who needs a quick medical reference to various aspects of medicine, Epocrates is the app to have.

Free for All Users

Another noteworthy aspect of this app is that it is free. It has received a lot of approval from both medical students and doctors. The user interface is also worth mentioning. It makes it easy to find any information one needs. Epocrates’ drug formularies offered by various insurance carriers are quite impressive. It helps doctors prescribe medication that is covered under the patient’s insurance policy to reduce the copay for them.

The formulary tool saves time for everyone in the healthcare industry. All one has to do is download the list of formularies and pick an insurance carrier to see the status of each drug. Another feature of this app worth noting is the drug alternative feature. You will find a list of alternative drugs that are covered under the insurance policy.

Visit the Medical Web Design page for more info

While not a source of medical information, O360® is the world’s highest-ranking medical website design company that is worth mentioning here. Physicians of different specialties, clinics, and hospitals come to Optimized360 LLC for their online marketing needs. The SEO team at O360® has earned the #1 rank on Google for over 100 medical website keywords. Search for keywords like ‘dermatology websites’, ‘plastic surgery websites’, ‘OBGYN websites’, and many more specialties to see examples.

The internet contains factual and nonfactual websites claiming to serve the medical community. However, it can be difficult to tell them apart. The list above can be useful for those seeking information to serve their patients better.

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How To Find Reliable Health Information Online

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Where can I find reliable health information online?

Questions to ask before trusting a website, health and medical apps.

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• Trust yourself and talk to your doctor

Many older adults share a common concern: “Can I trust the health information I find online?” There are thousands of medical websites. Some provide up-to-date medical news and reliable health information, and some do not. Choosing trustworthy websites is an important step in gathering reliable health information.

The National Institutes of Health website is a good place to start for reliable health information. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website is another one.

As a rule, health websites sponsored by federal government agencies are accurate sources of information. You can reach all federal websites by visiting www.usa.gov . Medical and health care organizations, hospitals, and academic medical institutions may also be reliable sources of health information.

Your health care provider can also suggest ideal sources of online information. If your doctor’s office has a website, it may include a list of recommended links.

Searching online, you will likely find websites for multiple health organizations, including many you may not recognize. The following questions can help determine which ones are trustworthy. Many of the answers can often be found in a website’s “About Us” section.

1. What is the purpose of the website, and who owns or sponsors it?

Why was the site created? Is the purpose of the site to inform or explain, or is it trying to sell a product or service? Understanding the motive of the website can help you better judge its content. The goal of any trustworthy health information website is to provide accurate, current, and useful information versus trying to make a sale.

Knowing who pays for a website may provide you with insight into the mission or goal of the site. For example, if a business pays for the site, the health information may favor that business and its products. Sometimes, the website address (called a URL) is helpful for identifying the type of agency or organization that owns the site. For example:

• .gov identifies a U.S. government agency
• .edu identifies an educational institution, such as a school, college, or university
• .org usually identifies nonprofit organizations, such as medical or research societies and advocacy groups
• .com identifies commercial websites, such as businesses and pharmaceutical companies

While many commercial websites do provide accurate, useful health information, it can be hard to distinguish this content from marketing and promotional materials in some cases. Any advertisements on a site should be clearly marked as such. Watch out for ads designed to look like neutral health information.

2. Who wrote the information? Who reviewed it?

Website pages often, but not always, identify the authors and contributors. If the author is listed, are they an expert in the field? Look for health care professionals or scientific researchers with in-depth knowledge of the topic. Does the author work for an organization and, if so, what are the goals of that organization? A contributor’s connection to the website, and any financial stake they have regarding the information on the website, should be made clear.

If the material is not authored by an expert, has the information been reviewed by a health care professional or other credentialed specialist? Dependable health information websites will share sources and citations.

Trustworthy websites will also have contact information — an email address, phone number, and/or mailing address — that you can use to reach the site’s sponsor. Look for this information at the bottom of web pages or in a separate “About Us” or “Contact Us” page.

Be cautious about testimonials, individual blogs, and posts on discussion boards. Personal stories may be helpful and comforting, but not everyone experiences health problems the same way. Also, there is a big difference between information written by a single person interested in a topic and a website developed by professionals using researched and peer-reviewed scientific evidence.

No online information, even if it is accurate and trustworthy, should replace seeing a health care professional who can thoroughly evaluate your unique situation and provide specific advice.

3. When was the information written and updated?

Look for websites that stay current with their health information. You don’t want to make decisions about your care based on out-of-date content. Often, the date the information was created and reviewed or updated will appear at the bottom of the page. Pages on the same site may be updated at different times, and some may be updated more often than others. Older information isn’t useless, but using the most current, evidence-based information is ideal.

4. Is your privacy protected? Does the website clearly state a privacy policy?

Read the website’s privacy policy. It is usually at the bottom of the page or on a separate page titled “Privacy Policy” or “Our Policies.” If a website says it uses “cookies,” your information may not be private. Cookies are small text files that enable a website to collect and remember information about your visit. While cookies may enhance your web experience, they can also compromise your online privacy, so it is important to read about the information the website collects and how the organization will use it. Many websites will ask you ahead of time if you want to accept cookies, but others may not. If you are concerned about the potential use of information gathered by cookies, you can choose to disable the use of cookies through your internet browser settings.

5. How can I protect my health information?

If you are asked to share personal information, be sure to find out how the information will be used. Secure websites that collect personal information responsibly have an “s” after “http” in the start of their website addresses (https://) and often require that you create a username and password.

Be careful about sharing your Social Security number . Find out why your number is needed, how it will be used, and what will happen if you do not share this information. Only enter your Social Security number on secure websites. You might consider calling your doctor’s office or health insurance company to give this information over the phone rather than providing it online.

Taking these precautions may help protect your information:

• Beware of health fraud scams and pay attention when browsing the internet. Do not open unexpected links. Hover your mouse over a link to confirm that clicking it will take you to a reputable website.
• Always use a strong password. Include a variation of numbers, letters, and symbols. Some websites may allow you to use a phrase as well. Create a unique password for each website and change it frequently.
• Use two-factor authentication when you can. This security feature requires the use of two different types of personal information to log into your mobile devices or accounts.
• Don’t enter sensitive information over public Wi-Fi. Learn about how to safely use public Wi-Fi networks .
• Be careful about the information you share through social media sites. For example, don’t share personal information, such as where you live or your contact information, on a public channel.

6. Does the website offer quick and easy solutions to your health problems? Does it promise miracle cures?

Be cautious about websites claiming any single remedy will cure many different illnesses. Also be wary of sites suggesting simple or unproven treatments for a disease. Question dramatic writing or promises of cures that seem too good to be true and look for other websites with the same information. Even if a website links to a trustworthy source, it doesn’t mean that the site has the other organization’s endorsement or support.

Mobile medical applications (“apps”) are a type of software you can install and run on your smartphone. Medical apps can support your health in many ways. For example, they can help track your eating habits or physical activity, access test results from a lab, or monitor a health condition. They can also provide helpful reminders to exercise or take medications. But anyone can develop a health app — for any reason — and apps may include inaccurate or misleading information. Before you download or use an app, make sure you know who produced it.

When you download an app, it may ask for your location, your email, or other personal information. Apps may also collect data about you as you use them. Ensure the information collected is relevant to the app, you know how the information will be used, and you feel comfortable sharing this information. Responsible app developers will make this information readily available before you download it.

Social media, health news, and health books

Social media websites and apps are online communities through which people can connect with friends, family, and strangers. Social media is one way people share health information and news stories with each other. Some of this information may be true, but too often some of it is not. Recognize that just because a post is from a friend or colleague, it does not necessarily mean that the information is accurate, complete, or applicable to your health. Check the source of the information, and make sure the original author is credible. Fact-checking websites can also help you determine if a story is reliable.

Evaluating health information in books is similar to finding reliable information on websites or on social media. Make sure to check who wrote the book, how current the information is, and where the content came from. When in doubt, ask your health care provider about what you read.

Trust yourself and talk with your doctor

Use your good judgment when gathering health information online. There are websites on nearly every health topic, and many have no rules for overseeing the quality of the information provided. Use the information you find online as one tool to become more informed. Don’t count on any one website and check your sources. Discuss what you find with your doctor before making any changes to your health care.

You may also be interested in

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Content reviewed: January 12, 2023

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Websites Most Frequently Used by Physician for Gathering Medical Information

1 School of Medical Laboratory and Radiation Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA

Cynthia LeRouge

2 Decision Sciences/MIS Department, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA

Claudia Ceriani

3 Universita’ Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, Italy

Fred Niederman

Physicians’ use of the Internet to gather medical information has increased in recent years. Several studies have been conducted to explore the implications of this use on patient education, the physician-patient relationship, and diagnosis/decision making. In order to better understand the current and future implications of Internet use on patient care activities, it is important to know the Internet sources physicians prefer to consult. The objective of this study was to determine the Internet sources of information physicians most often use to gather medical information. This study demonstrated that the vast majority of physicians indicate they access a targeted site rather than utilize a search engine (such as Google©) to gather medical information. Of the targeted site types, most physicians indicate they use 1) edited/secondary data sources as their primary medical information data retrieving, 2) about one quarter of the physicians surveyed indicated research databases which provide access to medical journal publications 3) a minority of physicians use sites dedicated to their specialized area and 4) a small percentage use medical web site portals.

A study was conducted to identify which websites physicians prefer using for gathering medical information. As a basis for collecting data, the research team developed an online questionnaire. The online survey method was considered appropriate for this sort of research as it emphasizes collecting data from relatively large numbers of individuals. The Missouri Division of Professional Registration ( www.pr.mo.gov ) provided the name, last name, middle name and email for 4,671 (December 2004 data) medical physicians and surgeons licensed in Missouri, with e-mail addresses on record. 4,593 of the e-mails were deemed useful after reviewing the record set. Of these 3,113 (67%) lived inside and 1,478 (33%) outside of Missouri. Subjects were invited by automated personalized email to fill in the questionnaire and received one follow-up e-mail 15 days after the initial invitation. Data were analyzed using SPSS.

We received a total of 381 valid responses to questions related to identifying preferred web sites for information gathering (8.3%). The vast majority (92%) of physicians indicate they access a targeted site rather than utilize a search engine (such as Google©) to gather medical information. 47.8% of subjects, who reported using a search engine as their preferred access to medical information reported that they do not consider the search engine an accurate source. In contrast, 96.7 % of physicians using a targeted site indicated they considered their on-line information source as being accurate. Of the targeted site types, 123 (32.3%) physicians indicate they use edited/secondary data sources as their primary medical information data retrieving. Specifically, 10.8% use Uptodate ( www.uptodate.com ), 8.4% use Medscape ( www.medscape.com ), 5.5% use Webmd ( www.webmd.com ), 4.7% use Mdconsult ( www.mdconsult.com ) and 2.9% use Emedicine ( www.emedicine.com ). More than one quarter (27.3%), 104, of the physicians surveyed indicated their on-site preferred source of medical information was research databases, which provide access to medical journal publications. Specifically, 19.7% use Pubmed ( www.pubmed.org ), 3.9% use Ovid, and 3.7% use Medline as their primary web source for on-line medical information gathering. A minority of physicians identified various sites dedicated to their specialized area, with no site representing more than 2.9% of the sample. Finally, a small percentage (3.1%) use medical web site portals (Mercmedicus, www.mercmedicus.com , for example) as their preferred means to gather medical information.

The Internet may be an essential way for physicians to improve their medical knowledge and to acquire updated information about health care and their profession. Unlike many information seekers, physicians in search of medical data seem overwhelmingly to favor targeted sites rather than web browsing for medical information. It is of note that most targeted sites contain edited and/or secondary data. Since the knowledge gained on line is transformed in practice, one may question whether a comprehensive view is obtained when consulting an edited source and/or only one preferred source.

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The top-rated websites for doctors

Doctors and other healthcare professionals use various health-related websites to gather information for patients, expand medical research, find a supportive community, and seek career guidance. In fact, in a recent Sermo poll of over 2,200 physicians, 33% stated they reference a healthcare website daily, and 48% reference them two-three times a week. 

Top 3 reasons doctors consult medical websites

When Sermo physicians were asked why they consult websites for doctors, and what the biggest benefit of using medical websites are—this is how they responded: 

• 30% Continuing education and refreshing medical school topics
• 28% Staying up to date on global medical news
• 27% Fact-checking, researching and obtaining evidence-based clinical advice and validating your medical decisions

Here’s more of what Sermo physicians have to say about the value of medical websites: 

Continuous updating is essential in our career, I use many means to get articles from the last 5 years at least, and now with Sermo I review interesting cases and share my publications with the intention of obtaining opinions and suggestions that are always welcome. (sic) GP, Turkey

Clinical websites…are essential tools to keep up with latest guidelines, and obtain quick refresh on medical diagnosis and treatment for common illnesses. Family Medicine, U.S.

11 of the best medical websites for doctors

Which types of sites are the best healthcare websites for doctors? Survey responses indicate that 51% visit medical journals, 22% use social media sites, and 12% refer to clinical education resources. An additional 9% visit healthcare organizations. 

The data above highlights the types of websites doctors visit. But, which specific websites do physicians frequent? According to our recent Sermo survey, the top websites for doctors are:

• 21% UptoDate
• 19% MedScape
• 17% World Health Organization (WHO), National Institute of Health (NIH), American Medical Association (AMA)

Medical websites offer good and quick information for practical use; especially medscape, epocrates, and up-to-date. Internal Medicine, U.S.

Here are the top health web sites doctors and medical professionals can use to gather medical information:

PubMed is a database that includes over 33 million citations for biomedical literature for your research needs. It is a part of NIH’s National Library of Medicine within the National Center for Biotechnology Information, and one of the best websites for health information.

PubMed’s website allows you to:

• Filter by year or type of article. 
• Read abstracts or full text. 
• Save citations to a file or email them to yourself. 

2. UptoDate

UptoDate is part of Wolters Kluwer , a provider of information, software, and services for clinicians worldwide since 1836. UptoDate provides health education, news, and decision support for medical organizations and individuals worldwide.

UptoDate features:

• The latest health news (including COVID-19 information).
• Evidence-based medicine. UptoDate’s in-house physician editors oversee the recommendations that both practicing physicians and students need to answer their difficult questions. 
• Health education galore: training webinars, live online learning, Continuing Medical Education, and a Certified Trainer Program. 

3. MedScape 

MedScape is one branch of a family of health websites, including WebMD and MedicineNet. Checking MedScape as part of your routine will keep you up to date with breaking medical news of the day. You can customize your newsfeed to your geographical region and read content in five different languages. Articles on over 7,000 diseases and monographs of over 8,000 drugs, supplements, and herbal remedies are at your fingertips with MedScape.

The MedScape app and website offer membership, education, and helpful resources:  

• The Continuing Medical Education component helps you log your progress, and the Physician Business Academy offers courses for practicing physicians on topics such as insurance, coding, and telemedicine. 
• Membership is free, and you will get access to a community to answer your questions, offer support, and discuss puzzling cases and new treatment options.
• Have a tough question? Type it in Decision Point and get a video answer (with a transcript) for fast answers from a variety of experts.

4. World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization was founded in 1948 as a part of the United Nations. WHO aims to provide universal health care access to all, regardless of age, economic status, or background. WHO directs the global response to worldwide health emergencies, including natural disasters and international conflicts, and works with world governments to provide medical equipment and professionals where they are needed.

WHO’s website includes world news, travel guidance, and more:

• Find the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 here, including treatments, new variants, and worldwide infection rates. This is your go-to resource for the latest vaccines and research.
• Do you have a trip coming up, or do you have patients asking about travel guidance during the pandemic? Search by country or region to get specific health-related strategies, statistics, and comprehensive, up-to-date travel advice. You can find COVID-19 guidance and other relevant health information tailored to the geographic location of your choosing. 
• Stay abreast of in-person and virtual events , campaigns, and committee meetings.
• Doctors can click on the Newsroom tab to scan the day’s headlines or quickly search for data, resources, and news about any worldwide health topic. 

5. National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The National Institutes of Health is the world’s biggest biomedical research agency. It is part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Each of its 27 different Institutes and Centers has a specific research area, such as curing cancer or preventing drug abuse. Over $32 billion in funding goes toward biomedical research through NIH every year.

NIH’s website includes career resources and information crucial for U.S.-based medical professionals:

• Find the latest national health guidance and news, clinical trials, and links to new research programs and agencies. Plus, find jobs at NIH, library and community resources, training opportunities, and links to all its Institutes and Centers.
• Learn how NIH is working to end structural racism within the medical field.
• NIH is one of the go-to websites for doctors to help locate research funding and to learn how to apply for grants .

6. American Medical Association (AMA)

The AMA is the nation’s biggest medical association, connecting almost 200 medical societies and stakeholders. Since its founding in 1847, the American Medical Association has promoted public health, represented physicians in judicial and legislative systems, and trained future health leaders.

AMA’s website provides resources that will help you excel in your medical journey, whether you are a veteran of your field, a resident, or a medical student:

• Becoming a member gives you insurance discounts and access to the JAMA Network (an online audio subscription and print journal).
• Keep up to date with virtual and in-person events . 
• AMA is an accredited provider of continuing medical education.
• Information available for members and non-members includes COVID-19 updates, health care advocacy resources, tips for residents and students, and resources for managing your practice and delivering the best possible care. 

7. ClinicalKey

ClinicalKey is run by Elsevier, a global health research and online analytics hub. ClinicalKey is an online database you can use to search journals, drugs, treatments, and more. Use information on ClinicalKey to help your patients in a timely manner.

ClinicalKey’s content can help validate your medical choices or help you reach a diagnosis: 

• Have a complex question and not a lot of time? Find answers quickly in the form of video or written word explanations.
• News within your speciality and the medical field as a whole, including COVID-19 updates.
• Resources are helpful for medical librarians, clinicians looking to help patients or student research. 
• ClinicalKey offers institution-based subscriptions tailored to students, nurses, and pharmacology professionals. Individual subscriptions can be tailored to a variety of specialties, from dermatology to pediatrics . 

8. Epocrates

Since 1998, Epocrates has provided up-to-date information to clinicians. Over a million users benefit from the pill identification feature, pediatric dosing information, and COVID-19 updates. 

Their medical information team compiles the information for you to sift through easily and get the diagnostic information you need. 

Epocrates allows for quick, trusted, easily accessible information:

• Save time by downloading the free Epocrates app to have all this information in the palm of your hand. 
• Epocrates also allows physicians to check if medicines are compatible with each other simultaneously in the body and confirm which insurance plans cover which drugs by state. 
• A premium content subscription at $16.99 per month includes infection disease treatments, alternative medicines, and more. 

Perhaps the most widely known medical website among the public, WebMD is part of the MedScape network. It can be useful for practicing physicians to supplement their knowledge or to better understand how patients think. Before consulting with their doctors, many patients tend to check their symptoms on WebMD and even self-diagnose. Knowing what patients might be reading before they come in to see you will help you anticipate their questions and concerns. 

WebMD includes:

• COVID-19 info, news stories, and blogs on trending topics. Reading the patient-authored blogs will help doctors better understand patients’ experiences and concerns with various conditions. 
• A free app for on-the-go medical information. 
• Award-winning health journalism, plus community resources, support, and even events. 

10. MedicineNet 

Also part of the WebMD and MedScape family, MedicineNet provides information about health and wellness, medication, and medical conditions for the public. Founded in 1996, this website aims to educate the public on maintaining health and to empower healthy choices. 

MedicineNet primarily educates patients, but doctors will benefit from knowing what kind of medical information patients may be accessing:

• Content is written by practicing physicians. MedicineNet has a peer-reviewed editorial policy. 
• Patients have likely done some research on their own about their ailment. Like WebMD, physicians may find this website useful to understand the patient’s mindset. 
• MedicineNet was created to address questions that develop after a physician consultation concludes or if a physician is not immediately available to answer a patient’s question. 
• Health quizzes and a medical terms dictionary encourage education among patients.

Looking for more support and real-world experience directly from your medical peers? At Sermo, you’ll experience a community-based knowledge exchange that connects over 1 million physicians from 150+ countries. 

Sermo is more than a website for medical professionals: it is a portal for accessing a global community of physicians who can help you answer tough challenges you’re facing, a place to build your professional reputation, and a collection of opportunities for doctors to earn extra income . It is a shared space to support and to be supported. After all, “sermo” means “talk” in Latin! 

Sermo is the number one social network for doctors —and it provides many benefits to members:

• Improve your practice by getting advice from your peers.
• Stay up-to-date on the latest medical news and information.
• Share your questions, experiences, and observations with the 24/7 worldwide community of medical professionals.
• Learn about any drug from peer ratings. Sermo has the world’s biggest database for physician drug ratings —featuring over one million reviews, and counting. Each drug is rated for efficacy, safety, tolerability, accessibility and adherence.
• Take continuing medical education courses.
• Earn money for participating in medical research studies and contributing to the community. 
• Connect with other doctors in a stress-free, patient-free environment. Our free app on iOS or Android promotes learning and discussion.

I have been a member of SERMO for a few long years – during this time, I made more friends, I learned a lot from clinical cases, I got up to date with new medical information, and of course, I made money doing surveys …….a lot. Nephrology, Spain

These websites for healthcare professionals will help you access the ever-changing medical landscape, as well as the peer-to-peer connections you seek. 

If you’re looking for a social outlet with clinicians who understand your position and a platform to discuss the latest news and get second opinions on diagnoses and treatments—visit Sermo today.

It is your job to support the patient. Let Sermo support you. Sign up to create your account for free and join the future of medical networking .

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For students & teachers, how to find credible medical websites for research.

EVERFI Content Team

The Internet is a powerful tool, but it is not without pitfalls. It is no secret that the Internet is the primary form of research for our students — medical information included.

Teaching our students how to use the Internet for medical information comes with a unique set of challenges. Below, we’ll break down how to judge the credibility of online sources.

What Do We Risk?

In a world defined by instant access to communication, we run the risk of our students leaping to incorrect conclusions. For medical information (used to inform medical decisions), this is incredibly dangerous.

Wrong, unsafe, or incorrectly understood medical information can have a very real impact on the lives of our students.

Online Medical Information: How Do We Determine Credibility?

The Who: Always Look to the Source First

The first step in gauging credibility is to analyze the source. Consider publications from the following:

• Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit academic medical center
• National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Johns Hopkins Hospital, one of the world’s premier teaching and biomedical research hospitals

The above institutions are examples of nonprofit, publicly funded, or university-affiliated medical centers. As a general rule of thumb, students can consider information from these sources to be impartial and accurate.

On the other hand, imagine information from the following fictional organizations:

• The Academy of Tobacco Studies, a for-profit research center funded by tobacco companies
• “Aunt Betsy Knows Best”, a blog selling herbal remedies for serious medical conditions

Clearly, these are not credible medical websites for research!

Yes, the examples are extreme. The core approach, however, remains the same — look to the source. If the source has an agenda, the website may lack credibility.

Tip: Websites ending in “.gov” (government) or “.edu” (top level domain for education) tend to be the most credible.

The What: What Information is Offered?

Consider the information offered by the website. For example, this article on the common cold from the Mayo Clinic gives a comprehensive overview of the disease. It offers general treatment tips, of course, but it doesn’t push a product — at best, it briefly mentions a generic medicine brand once or twice.

Tip: If a medical information website is telling the visitor to buy a specific product, it’s likely best to run in the other direction.

The When: Is the Information Current?

Outdated medical information is as potentially hazardous as incorrect content. It’s best to teach students to always check for a publication date.

Tip: The most credible online medical resources probably have the budget for quality web design. If the website looks and feels questionable, it probably is.

The Where: Where Did the Information Come From?

A few minutes spent poking around online can yield “evidence” that the 1969 Moon Landing is a government conspiracy and that smoking is good for your health. It’s vital that students understand where information comes from.

When our students stumble across medical information online, have them consider the following:

• What evidence does it provide?
• Is the evidence from a respectable, peer-reviewed medical publication?
• If the website provides studies as sources, do the studies back up the website author’s claims?

Tip: Medical studies have published abstracts — taking a minute to verify a study supports a website’s information is quick and easy.

The Why: Why Does This Website Exist?

As a pair of general rules:

• Credible online medical resources inform; they do not diagnose.
• Credible sources may recommend treatments; they do not sell medication.

Ask your students to take a minute and consider why a medical website exists. Informative articles from the Mayo Clinic, NIH, or Johns Hopkins exist to provide an objective understanding of a medical issue.

The more we instill a healthy sense of skepticism in our students, the better equipped they will be.

Tip: If a website pushes a treatment or recommends self-diagnosis without a doctor present, run for the hills!

What Are Some Credible Medical Websites For Research?

Our students can develop an appreciation for quality online medical information below:

• Johns Hopkins Medicine : premier teaching and biomedical research center
• Mayo Clinic : Nonprofit medical center
• DailyMed : Government-run drug information website
• MedlinePlus : Government-run health information website
• National Institutes of Health : Government-run health information website

Better Students, Better Research

There’s a lot of medical information on the Internet. Instilling our students with the right mindset for how to find credible medical information online is vital.

If our students can differentiate between credible medical websites and illegitimate ones, we can breathe a sigh of relief.

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Credible Sources for Students FAQs

Why do students need credible sources in their research papers.

Incorporating credible sources into research papers is a crucial aspect of academic writing. It serves multiple purposes, such as ensuring the accuracy and validity of the information presented, avoiding plagiarism, developing critical thinking skills, and building a strong academic reputation.

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