The Bottom Line
- Use OpenEvidence for rapid evidence retrieval and synthesis — but verify sources.
- Use UpToDate/BMJ Best Practice for curated, authored clinical decision support workflows.
- Use NICE/CKS when UK pathway wording and defensibility are the priority.
Think of this as a toolchain rather than a tool choice. The fastest clinicians use AI search as an evidence accelerator, then land in curated guidance for stable workflows and local documentation alignment.
1
If you need a fast evidence map → start with OpenEvidence
Ask for citations and limitations first. Treat output as a starting point, not a destination.
2
If you need a stable authored workflow → use BMJ Best Practice / UpToDate
Curated clinical decision support can be faster than AI when you already know the condition and need a dependable structure.
3
If you need UK pathway wording → use NICE/CKS-style framing
For UK-facing documentation and communication, the ‘language of pathways’ can matter as much as the evidence.
4
Switch tools when intent changes
Evidence discovery → curated workflow → local pathway wording is a sensible sequence for many questions.
Practice
Test your knowledge
Apply this concept immediately with a high-yield question block from the iatroX Q-Bank.
SourceOpenEvidence: Homepage
Open Link SourceWolters Kluwer: UpToDate overview
Open Link SourceBMJ: BMJ Best Practice overview
Open Link