Epocrates

Article summary

epocrates is a widely used mobile medical reference application that provides healthcare professionals with access to clinical information at the point of care. The software is designed to assist physicians, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other healthcare providers in making informed decisions about drug interactions, medical calculations, diagnosis and treatment options. It was initially developed as a Palm Pilot application in 1998 and has since evolved into a comprehensive medical resource available on various platforms.

Key claims

1. date of foundation: 1998 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. employees: 250 employees — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of foundation is "1998". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the employees is "250 employees". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
5. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1359432061