Health Sciences Library Resource Guide for Remote Users
Connect to Health Sciences Resources from Off-Campus
Access online full-text resources and electronic databases from off-campus using EZProxy, the library proxy server. Just login using your VCU eID. If you have any questions, please call the Service Desk at (804) 828-0636 or toll free (866) VCU-BOOK.
Search our Search Guides, Tips, Handouts and Tutorials to find training materials for specific databases and services. Getting Started with Your Research provides general guidance for research including tips on Searching, Evaluating your Resources, Finding Magazine & Journal articles, and more. Unsure of your library skills? Try TILT, an information literacy tutorial from the University of Texas, to test your knowledge of basic library and Internet searching skills.
Online Databases and Full-Text Resources
Search for citations to the professional literature in databases. Search for books and journals the library owns in the VCU Libraries Online Catalog. The library pays to subscribe to a number of databases covering the health sciences. Check the full list of Health Sciences Databases if you aren't sure where to start. This list provides links to the resources along with a brief description of their content. Online books, reference materials, and topical research guides are other sources for your research needs. The following are some of the most frequently used resources:
- BIOSIS Previews
The foremost reference database in the life sciences; provides abstracts of literature in biological and biomedical areas. Includes Biological Abstracts, Biological Abstracts/RRM, and BioResearch Index. - CINAHL
The premier research database of citations from publications in the fields of nursing and allied health. - Cochrane Library
Evidence-based healthcare database of systematic reviews. - Electronic Books for the Health Sciences
A variety of well-known medical textbooks online with full-text including Cecil's Textbook of Medicine, Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, Conn's Current Therapy, and more. - Health Sciences Reference Shelf
An indexed web resource contain links to a wide-variety of information including Associations & Societies, Dictionaries & Glossaries, Education, Government Agencies, Handbooks, Manuals, Directories, History & Biography, Hospitals & Physicians, Internet Searching Tools, Jobs & Career Information, Journals & Publishing, Meetings & Continuing Education, and Statistics. - Lexis-Nexis
Full-text legal, medical, business and news information. Search for case law, read National Public Radio transcripts, and more. - MDConsult
Customizable clinical information tool allows you to search various topics from journal literature, patient handouts, practice guidelines, reference books, drug information, as well as news and reports. Login to Generic or create your own account to customize handouts, maintain personal bookmarks, and more. - Medical Matrix
Links to Web sites covering news in the health sciences. - MEDLINE/PubMed
MEDLINE covers the fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, the health care system, and the pre-clinical sciences. The file contains over 15 million records dating back to 1950s. Includes a comprehensive online tutorial for those new to searching PubMed. Change the display from Summary to Abstract or Citation view to determine if VCU Libraries has a full-text journal subscription as shown below. Learn How to Access Articles from PubMed.
- MICROMEDEX Healthcare Series Intranet Application
Databases of summaries and detailed monographs for drugs and drug interactions. [NOTE: Not all databases are available]. This resource is also available for handheld computing as mobileMICROMEDEX. - Research and Topic Guides
Indexed web resources on various subjects including Cancer, Epidemiology, Evaluating Health-Related Web Pages, Evidence-Based Medicine, Genetics, Grant Information, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy Resources, and more. - Science Citation Index
Available through the ISI Web of Knowledge portal, Science Citation Index allows you to find out who is citing your research, track the research activities of your colleagues and competition, and link to cited references. - WorldCat
A consolidated catalog of items held by libraries worldwide.
Does the library own the journal article I need in full-text?
The library owns thousands of journals and about half of these are available online in full-text. Search for books and journals the library owns in the VCU Libraries Online Catalog. This online journal tip sheet will help you to determine what is online and what to do if it isn't. (Older articles are typically not available online, and the library does not subscribe to every journal that has an electronic journal link in PubMed).
Ordering materials the library owns
Delivery of circulating material owned by VCU Libraries is provided to remote users without fees. The Resources Delivery Services guide outlines our services.
Ordering materials the library does not own
When the library does not own a journal article, book, or other needed item, you may order it from your home or office using our online form. For more information about this service, please see the Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Resource Guide.