Medical Dictionaries / Reference Books

[LaurieB]

Hi there! I posted this question in the allo forum, but thought I'd try you guys since you probably have a good idea of what reference books might be relevant for an acquaintance of mine who works for an NGO in Cambodia. Her organization works with vicitims of human right's abuses and has a few nurses on staff that treat injuries and illnesses of these victims. When I last talked with her, they were using a 1994 Physicians Desk Reference for their primary source of medical information. I am getting a 2004 Physicians Desk Reference for her, but I also thought I should get the Merck Manual and a decent medical dictionary.

Can any of you recommend good medical reference books that would be relevant in this situation?

Also, what medical dictionary would you get: a Dorland's Illustrated, Stedman's, or something else?

Much thanks in advance for your suggestions!
Laurie

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[Seaglass]

Merck manual is probably good, you may want to send one of the Wilderness/overseas EM books that would offer suggestions on improvising when medical supplies are scarce. I can't think of the title of the book I'm thinking of, but I'll see if I can find it.

Casey

 

[LaurieB]

Thanks for the suggestion. What do you think of these two books I found on Amazon?


Minor Emergencies: Splinters to Fractures
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...gy_img_2/103-5205267-5236625?v=glance&s=books

Wounds and Lacerations: Emergency Care and Closure
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...gy_img_2/103-5205267-5236625?v=glance&s=books


These would be in addition to a PDR, Merck Manual, Dorland's, and Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment.

 

[Daniel vD]

Definitely the Merck Manual.

I'd say more than one. The MM isn't all that expensive ($38, I think) and it will probably be used a lot there, so buy as many as you have the money for.

 

[FoughtFyr]

Don't forget about 5 minute clinical consult. Great basic "how-to" book. I've used the IM, Peds, and EM editions, they are all good.

- H

 

[LaurieB]

Originally posted by Daniel vD
Definitely the Merck Manual.

I'd say more than one. The MM isn't all that expensive ($38, I think) and it will probably be used a lot there, so buy as many as you have the money for.

I was just looking on Amazon and saw two different Merck Manuals:

Merck Manual Diagnosis & Therapy
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...8611338/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/104-5831264-4079937

The Merck Manual of Medical Information
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...f=sr_1_1/104-5831264-4079937?v=glance&s=books

I'm assuming that the MM folks use most is the Merck Manual Diagnosis & Therapy. Is this right?

Thanks!

 

[Seaglass]

I'm assuming that the MM folks use most is the Merck Manual Diagnosis & Therapy. Is this right?

Yes

 

[Daniel vD]

Originally posted by LaurieB
I was just looking on Amazon and saw two different Merck Manuals:

Merck Manual Diagnosis & Therapy
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...8611338/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/104-5831264-4079937

The Merck Manual of Medical Information
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...f=sr_1_1/104-5831264-4079937?v=glance&s=books

I'm assuming that the MM folks use most is the Merck Manual Diagnosis & Therapy. Is this right?

Thanks!

That's right. The MM Diagnosis & Therapy is the real one.

The MM of Medical Information is the patient edition, written in 'everyday language' as the title says.


There is, however, one thing I was thinking of. What kind of facilities will they have there in Cambodja?
If they don't have labs, radiology, OR's, an ICU and so on, I doubt whether the Merck Manual will offer help in most cases. The MM is based on a Western hospital situation, where all of the above are readily available. When they are not, the MM doesn't offer mich help.

I'd still send them the MM (of D&T). Because even if there are no facilities, it's still useful, and a much better book than Harrison's and the others. I'll trust the MM.

It was even helpful for me when I was on vacation. I'd taken it along to Switzerland, to study some while I was there. Got urticaria, which means: PRURITUS (itching). So I contacted a local hospital, but I didn't know what the German word for itching was, and back then, I didn't know the term pruritus either.
So, I got my MM, looked for dermatology (chapter 10), and found: pruritus. I guess I would have been able to demonstrate the problem too, if I had to, (and my body was completely red due to scratching), but still, it's just one example of how the MM is always a valuable thing to take along.

 

[EMRaiden]

Although I'm not sure how useful a PDR is in the middle of Cambodia (I'm not really sure that its useful in most cases)... I commend your efforts.

I would recommend the following book (if you can get your hands on it), it was on Book's a Million's hard to find list...

Where There Is No Doctor, by David Werner. ISBN= 0942364155
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/textbooks/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?isbn=0942364155&TXT=Y&itm=3

There is also a companion book called; Where There Is No Dentist, by Murray Dickson

Good luck

 

[LaurieB]

Originally posted by EMRaiden
Although I'm not sure how useful a PDR is in the middle of Cambodia (I'm not really sure that its useful in most cases)... I commend your efforts.

I would recommend the following book (if you can get your hands on it), it was on Book's a Million's hard to find list...

Where There Is No Doctor, by David Werner. ISBN= 0942364155
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/textbooks/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?isbn=0942364155&TXT=Y&itm=3

There is also a companion book called; Where There Is No Dentist, by Murray Dickson

Good luck

Thanks! It seems that everyone thinks that the PDR is not that useful, but since it is the only book my friend asked for and it is the only book my friend has used in the past, I feel obliged ot send a copy. I'm sending along the other books because I think they could really improve her organization's ability to care for some of the people they encounter.

Incidentally, if any of you are feeling especially generous with your time and want to see where these books are going, the organization is called Licadho and you can check out their website at http://licadho.org/ .

Thanks again to all of you for your help. I'm still a lowly premed and have a tough time figuring out what books are relevant.

Laurie