RE: Clinical Evidence-Institutional site license

["Michael Simmons" <simmon11@msu.edu>]

An interesting perspective.

I'm not confused in the least by postings to this list and I certainly do
not see the information presented about BMJ's Clinical Evidence as a
generalization. A print journal which costs $240 in print and $27,500
electronically (this would be the cost to my institution as well), is
abnormally skewed.  One might actually be led to believe that this is done
to discourage institutional electronic access.  Not withstanding the
clinical value of BMJ's Clinical Evidence to healthcare providers, I would
venture to guess that the majority of administrators would view the price
tag far too high to justify electronic access.  While the quality and
applied value of BMJ's Clinical Evidence to healthcare is not being
challenged (on the contrary, I agree), those same administrators would
want empirical evidence that health care savings would be a result.
Studies of this type have been conducted by librarians.  Most notable,
"The impact of the hospital library on clinical decision making: the
Rochester study." [Bull Med Libr Assoc. 1992 Apr;80(2):169-78.]

It also goes without saying that librarians employ a variety of methods in
determining which resources to invest.  Rarely are the simplistic
measurements of cost/page or cost/workstation the sole factors that
determine those purchases or in determining their value.  In the example
of BMJ's Clinical Evidence, the publisher is the one who has established
cost/user as a measurement.  This is an unfortunate methodology since they
present a very strong case for the value of their journal.

No, I don't think BMJ is going to be receiving a request for online access
anytime soon from me.  However, after reading the detailed information on
their website I'm giving serious consideration to the print version of
Clincal Evidence.  The Drs. will be able to share the printed journal,
make photocopies, and use it for clinical decision-making just as easily,
knowing that $27,260/yr. has been better spent somewhere else in the
hospital.

Michael Simmons, MLIS, AHIP
Library Manager, Sparrow Health System
1215 East Michigan Avenue
Lansing, MI 48909
voice: 517.483.2274
fax: 517.483.2273
simmon11@msu.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
[mailto:owner-liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu]On Behalf Of Pete Goldie
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2001 3:02 PM
To: liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
Subject: Re: Clinical Evidence-Institutional site license

I believe this instance of a seemingly high "journal" price is an prime
example of the generalizations which confuse those reading this list.  I
learned about Clinical Evidence a few years ago from one of the main
editors... each topic presented in this publication represents a digested
compendium of research articles which address a specific clinical question
posed by the editors.  As such, it is not a standard journal with
unrelated primary research articles, but is an invaluable digest of basic
research that can provide specific answers to clinicians and health care
practices.  As such, its applied value to health care delivery is very
high, much higher in my opinion than most other clinical journals.

Librarians should exercise care when positioning the value of publications
in simplistic terms of cost per page or cost per workstation.  The high
apparent cost may be trivial in terms of health care savings.

Pete
Pete Goldie Ph.D.
Director, Professional Services/Western Region
XyEnterprise
2325 Third St. Suite 324
San Francisco, CA  94107

415-621-5746 voice
415-621-5898 fax