MEDLINEing. Why and how to conduct a literature search

Have you ever proposed a new prehospital intervention at your local medical advisory committee only to be stopped dead in your tracks when another participant calmly asserts that your idea is not field appropriate, has too many risks or is simply ineffective, then cites medical literature that says so? If you haven't done your homework, you must fold up your notes and quietly return to your seat. To be sure you're prepared with the best, current research for such a proposal, you need the same research tool your physician colleagues use, and that's the ability to search the MEDLINE database. Read on to learn a free and easy way to access this very powerful research tool via the Internet.