UpToDate
The answer clinicians reach for mid-consultation, not after it
What it is
About UpToDate
UpToDate (owned by Wolters Kluwer) synthesises current medical literature into practical, peer-reviewed topic summaries covering diagnosis, treatment and drug interactions, written and continuously updated by practising specialists. It's widely used by doctors, nurses and pharmacists as a fast, trusted reference during clinical decision-making and is often licensed institution-wide by hospitals and trusts. It complements rather than replaces formal drug references like the BNF or Lexicomp, focusing more on clinical reasoning and treatment pathways.
What you can do with it
Capabilities
Look up evidence-based diagnosis and treatment pathways at the point of care
Check drug interaction and dosing guidance integrated with Lexicomp data
Access patient education handouts for common conditions
Use clinical calculators embedded within topic pages
Stay current via continuously updated, specialist-authored content
How to learn it
Learning Resources
Complete UpToDate's own onboarding tutorials for institutional subscribers
Attend hospital library/informatics team training sessions
Review UpToDate's mobile app tutorials for offline point-of-care use
Practise looking up real clinical scenarios encountered on placement or shift
Pro Tip
Download topics for offline access on the mobile app before a shift in an area with poor hospital wifi — UpToDate's offline sync is a genuinely underused feature.
Skills that use this tool
Roles that use this tool