Like you, we want every patient to receive the best care possible.
In partnership with the Better Evidence program at Ariadne Labs, a joint center at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Society of General Internal Medicine, we provide complimentary UpToDate subscriptions to qualifying clinicians and organizations.
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Do you study or practice medicine in a resource-limited setting?
Select the appropriate program link for your location:
Responding to urgent need
Total providers reached by 2022 donations, mapped.
In partnership with Better Evidence, Wolters Kluwer continues to provide free UpToDate access and/or distribute UpToDate content to individuals and institutions in resource-limited settings or in regions with urgent need following natural disasters, infectious disease outbreaks, and humanitarian emergencies.
Clinical content
We continue to develop and update clinical content to address relevant issues for resource-limited settings. This content is available in our global health collection.
Throughout the pandemic, UpToDate has offered open access to clinical content and guidance for Covid-19 clinical topics. View the topic list here.
Conducting research
We support research conducted by Better Evidence at Ariadne Labs to better understand the impact that an evidence-based clinical resource can have on front-line care.
Additional studies are underway to evaluate the impact of UpToDate on medical education in Africa and on clinical care delivered worldwide.
Research supports use of UpToDate in resource-limited settings
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UpToDate has an important role for medical education in resource-limited settings
UpToDate has an important role for medical education in resource-limited settings
Valtis YK, Rosenberg JD, Wachter K, et al. Better evidence: Prospective cohort study assessing the utility of an evidence-based clinical resource at the University of Rwanda. BMJ Open 2019; 9(8): e026947. (PMID 31399450)
Estudio observacional en el que se evalúan las repercusiones de UpToDate en la educación médica entre 547 alumnos de la Universidad de Ruanda. Los estudiantes avanzados vieron 1,24 temas por día (en media) y continuaron usando UpToDate frecuentemente después de graduarse de la facultad de medicina. Además, el rendimiento en los exámenes de graduación de la clase fue mejor después de la introducción de UpToDate que en años anteriores. Al inicio del estudio, el 92 por ciento de los estudiantes informaron poseer un dispositivo con capacidad para Internet, y la mayoría indicó el uso frecuente de recursos gratuitos en línea para la educación médica.
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Potential barriers to UpToDate use in resource-limited settings are surmountable
Potential barriers to UpToDate use in resource-limited settings are surmountable
Valtis YK, Rosenberg J, Bhandari S, et al. Evidence-based medicine for all: What we can learn from a programme providing free access to an online clinical resource to health workers in resource-limited settings. BMJ Glob Health 2016; 1(1):e000041. (PMID 28588926)
Un análisis de los registros de uso de UpToDate entre los receptores de suscripciones donadas en entornos con recursos limitados entre 2013 y 2014 (incluidas 45 suscripciones institucionales y 405 usuarios individuales). Se registraron aproximadamente 150 000 sesiones únicas y se observó un uso regular (al menos semanal) entre el 61 % de los receptores. Los usuarios de África representaron el 54 % del uso total, pero representaron el 41 % del grupo de receptores de donaciones. Los patrones de búsqueda reflejaron la epidemiología local; lo más buscado en África fue “Manifestaciones clínicas de la malaria”, mientras que lo más buscado en Asia fue “Tratamiento de la hepatitis B”.
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UpToDate improves clinical knowledge among healthcare workers in Africa
UpToDate improves clinical knowledge among healthcare workers in Africa
McNairy ML, Wurcel AG, Huang F, et al. Health care workers in Africa access a broad range of topics using evidence-based online medical information. Glob Public Health 2012; 7(8):823. (PMID 22621407)
Estudio descriptivo del uso de UpToDate en cuatro hospitales de África: dos en Ruanda (Hospital del Distrito de Rwinkwavu y Hospital de Kirehe), uno en Malawi (Hospital del Distrito de Neno) y uno en Sudáfrica (Hospital McCord). Más de 100 trabajadores sanitarios recibieron formación en el uso de UpToDate y fueron encuestados durante un período de estudio de seis meses. Se buscó una amplia variedad de temas médicos. Alrededor del 78 por ciento de los trabajadores sanitarios informaron un uso diario o semanal de UpToDate, y el 70 por ciento consideró que la herramienta era muy útil para la enseñanza. Todos los usuarios informaron de que la herramienta aumentaba sus conocimientos clínicos.
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Ugandan partnership shows UpToDate uptake influenced by institutional support
Ugandan partnership shows UpToDate uptake influenced by institutional support
Kinengyere AA, Rosenberg J, Pickard O, et al. Utilization and uptake of the UpToDate clinical decision support tool at the Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS), Uganda. African Health Sciences 2021; 21(2): 904.
Se concedió acceso a UpToDate al Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS), Uganda, en asociación con Better Evidence de Ariadne Labs; el acceso se produjo principalmente a través de la aplicación de telefonía móvil. Se observó un uso significativo, con 43 043 inicios de sesión y 15 591 registros, entre agosto de 2019 y agosto de 2020, y se vieron una gran variedad de temas. Sin embargo, la adopción no fue consistente; los bibliotecarios pueden aprovechar estos resultados para alentar a las instituciones a apoyar la adopción de herramientas en el punto de atención en la práctica clínica.
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UpToDate may be utilized in a variety of ways in resource-limited settings
UpToDate may be utilized in a variety of ways in resource-limited settings
Miller K, Rosenberg J, Pickard O, et al. Segmenting Clinicians’ Usage Patterns of a Digital Health Tool in Resource-Limited Settings: Clickstream Data Analysis and Survey Study. JMIR Form Res 2022; 6(5):e30320. (PMID 35532985)
Los investigadores definieron los segmentos clínicos en función de sus patrones de uso de UpToDate (usuarios esporádicos a corto plazo; usuarios intensivos a corto plazo; usuarios intensivos a largo plazo; usuarios esporádicos a largo plazo; y usuarios que nunca lo usaron) para dilucidar mejor los motivos impulsores del uso de la herramienta sanitaria digital.
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Featured UpToDate donation recipients
Tom Chew, MD – Iraq
Donation recipient since: July 2010
Affiliated site: Scientific Technology & Language Institute (Iraq)
Team comprised of: Two American physicians working with two local physicians and administrative staff
Patients include: Refugees in northern Iraq
Number of patients cared for per year: 12,000
Most common conditions managed: Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, diabetes mellitus, hypertension
My wife and I have a lifelong calling to serve the poor and needy. The medical needs among the refugees in northern Iraq are so significant that the government is heavily dependent on outside groups for assistance.
The ability to access UpToDate very easily at any point of care significantly improves implementation of evidence-based guidelines…I have changed my diagnostic criteria and treatment plans countless times based on UpToDate.
Refugee camps of Northern Iraq; submitted by Dr. Thomas Chew. 
“Hospital Arco Iris,” translated as “Rainbow Hospital”; submitted by Dr. Julio Paz. Julio Paz, MD – Bolivia
Donations recipient since: November 2012
Affiliated site: Hospital Arco Iris (La Paz, Bolivia)
Team comprised of: 13 physicians, heads of departments, and internists
Patients include: Primarily vulnerable groups (such as children who work and live on the street, elderly citizens, pregnant women, young children under the age of 5), and individuals without health insurance who rely on government coverage
Number of patients care for per year: 6,000+ inpatients/year; 100,000+ outpatient consultations/year; nearly 50,000 free consultations held through four mobile clinics (aimed to reach most at-risk patients)
Most common conditions managed: Diabetes mellitus, cholecystitis, appendicitis, head trauma, pulmonary disease, urinary tract infections, and obstetrical problems
Our hospital provides medical attention primarily to vulnerable groups…we have 120 beds and provide services in intensive care, adult primary care, newborn care, radiology, and endoscopic procedures. We have radiology residency program, and we receive residents from other cities who take shifts in orthopedics, anesthesiology, and obstetrics/gynecology.
The biggest change we have seen is the ease of access to subjects that are being constantly updated and for which we receive guidance for diagnosis and treatment. A big advantage is that, besides being reviewed by an expert panel, they are very current, which makes them reliable.
Brenda Mastin, FNP – Togo
Donation recipient since: October 2014
Affiliated sites: Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) International
Karolyn Kempton Memorial Christian Hospital (Togo)
Friend Indeed Association (HIV/AIDS ministry providing education, compassion, and support)
Team comprised of: 5 mid-level providers, 2 physicians, and 30+ in HIV/AIDS ministry
Patients include: Local residents with acute and chronic conditions
Number of patients treated per year: 15,000+
Most common conditions managed: Parasitic infections, typhoid and paratyphoid fever, amebiasis, malaria, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and back pain
Using UpToDate has radically changed the way I practice in that I have at my fingertips literally all the tools I need to give sound, relevant, current medical care wherever I am.
There are so many stories where access to UpToDate completely changed the course of what I (or my colleagues were going to do) after we read up on it. An example: a patient presented suddenly with fever, shortness of breath, decreased oxygen saturation, and mental change after having been at the hospital for a tibia/fibula fracture and dislocated right hip. None of us knew that there is a fat embolism syndrome and that it could present with fever. We adjusted our thinking and gave correct care, because of our trusty resource, UpToDate.
Grantee with patient; submitted by Brenda Mastin. Robert Chapman, MD, PhD – United States
Donations recipient since: June 2017
Affiliated site: Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine (Lakeland, Florida; US)
Team comprised of: Approximately 30 primary care physicians, subspecialists, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, chiropractors, and a dentist (most are volunteers), plus almost 250 additional volunteers who serve as receptionists, pharmacists, nurses, schedulers, medical records clerks, and administrative personnel
Patients include: Local residents with no medical insurance and income below twice the poverty level
Number of patients cared for per year: 1300+
Most conditions managed: Chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, depression, and chronic lung disease
Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine (LVIM) was founded based on the Volunteers in Medicine model begun by Dr. Jack McConnell, a retired pediatrician who began the first Volunteers in Medicine in Hilton Head, South Carolina. LVIM is housed in a former elementary school which was refurbished as a medical clinic. As a non-profit charity, it is funded solely through grants and donations.
UpToDate has served as a wonderful resource for us at LVIM. Many of our volunteer physicians are retired from their active practices and use UpToDate to keep up with the many changes occurring in medicine, and to ensure that high quality of care is maintained.
Photo of center offering free services to patients; submitted by Dr. Robert Chapman. 
Tools to help achieve health equity
Axis Medical Center and Americares discuss their commitment to improving health equity and providing the best care everywhere for vulnerable patient populations. As recipients of the UpToDate donations program, their care teams use a combination of clinical decision support and inclusive care practices to establish trust and better access to care.
Learn More
Donated mobile CDS subscriptions help Ugandan students improve study and patient care
UpToDate donated subscriptions help a Uganda school streamline classroom prep, enhance patient care, and overcome technical issues.
Learn MoreApply now!
Do you study or practice medicine in a resource-limited setting?Select the appropriate program link for your location: