Balancing medical knowledge: A librarian's challenge.

UpToDate vs. BMJ's PointofCare: Making Informed Choices for Healthcare Professionals

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Jordan Keane in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A Librarian's Perspective on Balancing Resources, Budgets, and Clinical Needs"


Imagine the look of disappointment when a physician learns that a resource they rely on, like UpToDate, is being replaced. This scenario is a reality for many health librarians who must balance the clinical needs of their users with budgetary constraints. The goal isn't to eliminate valuable tools, but to find alternatives that offer comparable quality at a sustainable cost.

This is precisely the challenge faced by the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region (RQHR) Library, which decided to replace UpToDate with BMJ's PointofCare. While UpToDate is undoubtedly popular, its high cost limited access for many healthcare workers in the region. The library aimed to provide a similar standard of resource, ensuring broader access for all staff.

Library Director Susan Baer emphasized that the decision was driven by the financial strain of providing site-wide access to UpToDate. By switching to BMJ's PointofCare and DynaMed, the library could offer wider access at a comparable cost.

The UpToDate Appeal: Why It's So Popular

Balancing medical knowledge: A librarian's challenge.

UpToDate has long been a favorite among physicians, medical students, and librarians. Its ease of use, intuitive interface, and well-organized layout contribute significantly to its popularity. The clean layout, simple search functions, and concise summaries make it a go-to resource for quick answers at the point of care.

However, UpToDate's popularity comes at a price. Many health libraries find it increasingly difficult to justify the expense, especially when faced with shrinking budgets. This financial pressure has forced librarians to explore alternative point-of-care tools that offer similar benefits at a lower cost.

  • Cost Considerations: UpToDate's pricing can be prohibitive for providing site-wide access, leading libraries to seek more affordable options.
  • User Preferences: While popular, UpToDate is not the only option. Other tools offer comparable quality and may even surpass it in certain areas.
  • Evidence-Based Content: The depth and quality of evidence provided by different resources can vary. Libraries need to evaluate these factors carefully to ensure they're providing the best possible support for clinical decision-making.
Recent studies have highlighted the strengths of alternative resources. Comparisons of various point-of-care products, including UpToDate, Clinical Evidence (BMJ), ACP PIER, DynaMed, and FIRSTConsult, reveal that other tools can offer higher levels of evidence and more frequent updates. While UpToDate remains a strong contender, it's not necessarily the undisputed leader.

Making the Right Choice: A Balancing Act

The decision to switch from UpToDate to BMJ's PointofCare isn't about downgrading quality. It's about making strategic choices that align with budgetary realities and user needs. By carefully evaluating alternative resources, libraries can provide comprehensive support for healthcare professionals without breaking the bank.

Ultimately, the ideal point-of-care tool should be user-friendly, evidence-based, and affordable. While UpToDate excels in many areas, it's essential to consider the alternatives and choose the resource that best meets the unique needs of the organization.

Further research on point-of-care tools is crucial to help libraries make informed decisions. These studies should ideally involve users who haven't already developed a strong bias towards a particular tool. In the meantime, librarians must balance physician preference, product quality, and budgetary constraints to provide the best possible resources for their healthcare communities.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.5596/c09-043, Alternate LINK

Title: What — No Uptodate? The Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region Library Replaces Uptodate With Bmj’S Pointofcare

Subject: Library and Information Sciences

Journal: Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association / Journal de l'Association des bibliothèques de la santé du Canada

Publisher: University of Alberta Libraries

Authors: Barb Taylor

Published: 2014-07-24

Everything You Need To Know

1

What is UpToDate?

UpToDate is a clinical decision support tool favored by physicians, medical students, and librarians due to its user-friendly interface, intuitive layout, and concise summaries. It provides quick answers at the point of care. However, its popularity comes at a significant cost, which is a major factor for health libraries.

2

What is BMJ's PointofCare?

BMJ's PointofCare is a clinical decision support tool that serves as an alternative to UpToDate. It offers comparable, and in some cases, superior quality in evidence-based content. The Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region (RQHR) Library selected BMJ's PointofCare to ensure wider access for all staff because the cost was more sustainable compared to providing site-wide access to UpToDate.

3

Why is cost a key consideration when selecting clinical decision support tools?

Cost is a critical factor in the decision-making process for health libraries. UpToDate's high price can be a barrier to providing comprehensive access across a healthcare region. Budgetary constraints often force librarians to evaluate alternatives like BMJ's PointofCare and DynaMed that offer similar quality at a lower cost. This decision directly impacts which resources are available to healthcare professionals for clinical decision-making.

4

How does the quality of evidence impact the choice of clinical decision support tools?

The evidence-based content in clinical decision support tools is crucial. Different resources vary in the depth and quality of evidence. Some studies suggest that alternatives like BMJ's PointofCare and DynaMed may offer higher levels of evidence and more frequent updates compared to UpToDate. Librarians must carefully evaluate the evidence provided by each tool to ensure they support the best possible clinical practices.

5

What is the significance of the decision to switch from UpToDate to BMJ's PointofCare?

The decision to replace UpToDate with BMJ's PointofCare is a strategic one, balancing the needs of healthcare professionals with the constraints of a limited budget. It underscores the importance of providing access to high-quality clinical decision support while ensuring financial sustainability. It's about making informed choices that enable libraries to offer comprehensive support for healthcare professionals.

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