The Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) contemplates awarding a sole source contract to UpToDate, Inc. to provide access to an online comprehensive diagnosis tool for the clinicians at Western State Hospital, Eastern State Hospitals and 5 DDA facilities in the treatment and care of residents and patients. This tool also provides access to an unbiased collection of medical journals and periodicals. This service acts as a substitute for maintaining a medical library and multiple subscriptions to medical journals on site. Western State Hospital (WSH), Eastern State Hospital and 5 DDA facilities treat patients with a variety of severe psychiatric and medical conditions. The facilities need accurate and timely medical and drug information in order to treat patients safely and effectively. These facilities do not have a medical library or access to medical journals. Even if they did, it has become nearly impossible to keep up with the medical literature because of the enormous volume which is published every month. Additionally, much of the published literature is considered biased. Up-to-Date is an online updated, nonbiased, physician-authored source of medical information. It summarizes the quality literature into easily searched topics and provides recommendations for clinical decisions. Information is extensive and referenced.
