IN THE CLINIC

What Is In the Clinic?

In the Clinic is a monthly feature in Annals of Internal Medicine introduced in January 2007 that focuses on practical management of patients with common clinical conditions. It offers evidence-based answers to frequently asked questions about screening, prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and patient education and provides physicians with tools to improve the quality of care.

The foundation for In the Clinic is the evidence-based clinical guidance in the American College of Physicians' electronic point-of care decision-making resource, PIER (Physicians Information and Education Resource). In developing In the Clinic, Annals editors draw upon other ACP knowledge products, such as MKSAP (Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program), as well as outside resources, including practice guidelines and quality-of-care measures. In the Clinic integrates this material on broad topics in a relatively brief, easy-to-read format with an emphasis on practical measures that can be readily integrated into practice.

In the Clinic includes:

Links to PIER and other evidence sources
Tools to help physicians improve patient care
Continuing medical education quizzes offering category 1 CME credit

The electronic features of In the Clinic are available only to individual subscribers, including those who receive Annals as an ACP membership benefit.

Please go to the reprints page for information about bulk purchase of In the Clinic issues.

Issues

Low Back Pain | May 2008 | Description | PDF | CME | Tool Kit

Depression | May 2007 | Description | PDF | CME | Tool Kit

More about PIER

PIER (pier.acponline.org) is a compendium of evidence-based clinical guidance presented in a unique telegraphic, electronic format designed for rapid access to clinical information at the point of care by physicians and other health care providers. In its 435 modules, PIER covers not only individual diseases but also topics in legal medicine and ethics, complementary and alternative medicine, common procedures, and screening and prevention. New features include Clinical Presentations, utilizing a flow diagram approach to undifferentiated clinical problems and a quality measure tool. Web technology allows extensive links to other high-quality material that is useful to practice. Links from PIER text and tables allow users to go directly to more detailed information in a comprehensive drug resource. PIER draws upon all available evidence but rates its guidance and cited literature by evidence level. PIER content is rigorously peer-reviewed and is updated continually.