Set-it-and-forget-it Social Learning Tools via MyPubMed

I took the time a few years ago to set up a series of saved searches using PubMed. The fact that I was able to do this quite effectively despite not being a medical librarian plus having to navigate Pubmed’s less-than-perfect interface, suggests that you could probably do it too!

As a result, several time a week I receive an alert to all of the new publications that may be relevant to my search. Some days I have a chance to peruse them, some times I do not, but on most Mondays I enjoy flipping through a list of ‘What’s new in medical education?” or “What’s new in social media AND learning?” as I am enjoying my breakfast. The beauty is that I have leveraged a set-it-and-forget-it tool and now I am pulling new filtered information into my awareness on a weekly basis, without having to be disciplined enough to search it out – or rely on simple serendipity.

I can then set up lists within Pubmed to be shared with the community – the 15 minutes spent years ago then continually benefits not just me, but anyone who wants to follow my lists…the gift that keeps on giving!

Here are two examples of my shared lists:

View my collection, “Favorites” from NCBI

View my collection, “Online & Collaborative Learning” from NCBI

In many ways this is a great example of #socialQI inasmuch as I am finding new ways to simplify information flow and I’ve spent the time connecting you to my learning…when and if you have the opportunity to engage. No obligation, but the opportunity to share and learn is there and this gets back to the idea that we need to find ways to make learning, doing, and sharing one action in healthcare.