What is Anvita eReference?
Anvita is an integrated computer reference of science and medicine, with information encompassing internal medicine, molecular pathology (biochemistry, molecular biology, pathology), laboratory medicine, radiology, pharmacology, anatomy, & statistics. Anvita eReference
is designed to bridge traditional silos of knowledge,
interrelating a broad range of information from different fields of study.
Anvita functions as a "peripheral brain". It is NOT a substitute for understanding principles of science & medicine, NOR does its use discourage critical thinking. Rather it is intended to function as an adjunct to an individual's memory allowing "Onsite" or "Point of Contact" retrieval through an intuitive & interactive interface.
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What kind of information can I find in Anvita eReference?
Anvita includes information on:
· Medicine
· Anatomy
· Physiology
· Pathology and laboratory medicine
· Molecular biology and biochemistry
· Genetics
· Epidemiology
· Pharmacology
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What sets Anvita eReference apart from other electronic
medical resources?
Anvita is different from other medical electronic reference
tools available today. A number of things set Anvita apart
and make it a cost-effective and multi-functional reference
tool:
- In depth basic science information is integrated
with clinical and research medicine.
- Medical terminology, as well as the scientific
knowledge is built into the program
eliminating the need for accessing multiple reference
books.
- It functions without the need for internet connection,
making it much faster than internet-based systems
AND a useful tool when internet is not available.
- When internet is available, Anvita provides point
and click access to relevant internet resources
- It operates on multiple platforms (Windows and
Macintosh) and can be viewed on a screen as small
as 10 inches.
- Multiple topics can be searched within seconds.
- Built-in authoring tools allow health care professionals,
rather than computer programmers, to build their
own special content of Anvita. This feature provides
for a place to store related
information that often gets lost in piles of papers
or forgotten journals, thus eliminating paper
clutter. The authoring interface allows Anvita
to interact with an author providing feedback
derived from the Anvita knowledgebase.
- Automated processing of molecular data.
- Automated generation of figures or diagrams.
- Its infrastructure has been built in such a way
to make Anvita fast and focused.
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Who should use Anvita?
Anvita is a good fit for anyone who needs a comprehensive
electronic resource pertaining to medical care with reference information on a
wide range of topics. Physicians,
nurses, pharmacists and many
other professionals will benefit from having a bookshelf's
worth of reference material at their fingertips.
Anvita is also a natural fit for researchers, who might
seek to understand the health implications of bench research.
With its ability to connect molecular structure and function
to human disease, Anvita can highlight the relevance of
scientific inquiry.
Because of its capability to bridge basic sciences and medicine,
Anvita is a natural fit for health care students. They often
find it challenging to integrate pre-clinical courses with
clinical education, and Anvita helps them understand the
importance of their basic science education to the care
of humans.
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I already have reference material on my computer.
Will Anvita duplicate it?
Anvita offers you the option of linking to other documents
on your computer so that they are integrated into its logical
information structure. Anvita also offers the option of
adding content within the program itself, so that your version
is personalized just for you, focusing on the topics that
you find most important.
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How does the Anvita query process work?
Anvita's query response is sensitive and specific.
Each query response includes a list of associated
topics: more general, more specific, components, related,
and clinically relevant. For instance, a user who
couldn't recall the proper name for a gastric disorder
could query "stomach" to open a list of
more specific topics. Choosing the most relevant one,
he or she could then generate ever more specific lists
until the disorder in question was identified. This
is in contrast to keyword Web searches like Google,
where the accuracy of results depends on the way the
search terms are entered, and irrelevant or essentially
duplicate results are common.
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What is included in the Pharmacology?
Pharmacology includes indications, contraindications, dosing, pharmacokinetics, monitoring, adverse effects, drug interactions, lab testing, mechanisms of actions, drug structure, links to PubChem, geriatric and pediatric dosing, pregnancy and lactation, overdose management, clinical trials, and other information. There is also a Drug Interactions Finder.
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Does Anvita offer clinical decision support?
While no reference - including Anvita - is a substitute
for sound medical knowledge and judgement, Anvita offers
the background information that makes diagnosis easier.
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Would laypeople benefit from using Anvita?
Yes. Anvita also includes links to content written
specifically for the general public on a wide variety of
health-related topics.
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What are the computer requirements to run Anvita?
Mac: Apple Macintosh computer with a Power
Macintosh or a G3 or G4 processor
CD-ROM drive
Internet connection (for updates)
OSX
1 GB of RAM
WIN: A PC with a Pentium class processor
CD-ROM drive
Internet connection (for updates)
Microsoft Windows 95 or later
1 GB of RAM
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Do I need an internet connection to use Anvita?
No. We specifically designed Anvita for offline use.
While registered users will update their version via
Web downloads, Anvita is fully functional anywhere
you take it: into the classroom, the field, while
travelling, in remote locations. The only thing not
available offline are the hyperlinks to internet-based
content.
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Is a site license available?
Yes, site licenses are available for 3 or more individuals
in an organization. Please contact Sheldon
Ball for more information.
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