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The article presents a discussion of the impact that a decision which the online social networking web site Facebook made to change its policy on user comments has had on pharmaceutical companies that have Facebook pages in 2012. The role that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is playing in conflicts which have developed between Facebook and the pharmaceutical industry is discussed. In the article the author offers his opinions on the pharmaceutical industry's use of social media.

The article discusses various important issues concerning the Medicare program in the U.S. in October 2011. It offers information on different online resources that can be accessed to refer to Medicare policy controversies such as Medigap Policy Search and the website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The author explores reforms in the health law that affect the welfare of beneficiaries.

The article discusses the availability of mobile applications for health professionals. It says that mobile health apps are becoming a huge industry in the consumer market because of the boundless quest of individuals for monitoring devices, diagnostic tools and medical information. The author adds that traditional publishers, pharmaceutical firms and pharmacies are also moving into the mobile health app market. The worth of the global market for mobile medical apps in 2010 is also discussed.

The article discusses research findings on the rise of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in the U.S. It mentions a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) titled "The Direct Medical Costs of Healthcare-Associated Infections in U.S. Hospitals and the Benefits of Prevention" which predicted that one out of every 20 hospitalized patients will be infected with an HAI. It cites various resources for learning about HAIs such as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the CDC site at www.cdc.gov/hai.

The article presents a review of the online tools available to decide on health insurance. In 2014, unless changes are made on the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, U.S. citizens will be required to have medical insurance or pay a fine. The author recommends that for those without health insurance or want to compare rates across insurers, research can be done at HealthCare.gov, managed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The article deals with the use of the Internet when searching for a family physicians in the U.S. and the effect of the shortage of primary-care physicians on the U.S. health care system. It notes on the availability of agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that provide information on choosing a doctor. The advantages of walk-in medical services are discussed. The increasing popularity of concierge physicians in the U.S. are also noted.

The article explains the importance of using medical devices. A study from the Johns Hopkins University Evidence-based Practice Center suggests that select consumer health informatics (CHI) applications are suitable to consumers, boost traditional clinical interventions and enhance both intermediate and clinical health outcomes. A trendletter called iHealth indicated that future medical devices include webcams, virtual house calls and smartphones. Also provided are information on several medical gadgets, such as fitness devices recording exercise data.

The article reviews the web sites for unbiased sources regarding healthcare including Health Reform: An Online Guide at www.slate.com/id/2220222, the New England Journal of Medicine at http://healthcareform.nejm.org and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) at http://www.cbo.gov/publications/collections/health.cfm.

The article discusses how online social networks are changing medical searching. It cites that public relations (PR) companies are asking to supplement traditional media audits with searches of social networking and blog entries. It notes that an increasing concern with blogs that are generated by physicians involves the sharing of individual patient information. It states that health blogs and social networking sites tend to reach few individuals with a particular disease or medical condition.

Interviews Melvin S. Day, information professional of several governmental agencies in the U.S. Influences in his childhood that brought him to the information profession; Discussion on his profession as a scientific analyst; His role at the Atomic Energy Commission; Details of his transfer at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

This article presents an interview with BRS co-founder Jan Egeland and BRS employee Debbie Hullon on the purchase of BRS by Thyssen-Bornemisza Corp. in 1980. According to Egeland, the Thyssen group was very aggressive and persuasive and it appeared to be a good mix, because they already had an information technology unit. The firm was protective of its users, even then. BRS executives did not want to sell the firm to someone who would not preserve its service and care for the users, maybe an outside company would even give its users something in addition that would be beneficial. Thyssen guaranteed the BRS executives complete operating freedom and complete separation. Yet they were willing to put in the cash necessary to grow the business to the next phase. The BRS executives had started the BRS After Dark service and they were heavy into a lot of full-text medical applications with Colleague. They knew that they needed cash to pursue this additional market. They were going to have to upgrade their equipment. They would have to make some basic changes in the company. They needed more people. They had lots of things that needed cash if they were to grow. They felt that Thyssen was a fairly synergistic possibility, so they were willing to consider it. INSET: BRS User Committees.

This article presents an interview with Richard Giering, a developer of the full-text retrieval technology, on his early U.S. military and Data Corporation experiences in developing the technology. In response to the merger of the company with Mead Corporation, Giering narrates that the merger started with Lysle Cahill, who was president and partner with Bill Gorog of Data Corporation, who was also a friend and neighbor of Jim McSweeney, the chief executive officer of Mead Corporation. Focusing on legal matters, Giering said that Arthur D. Little was contacted, who brought in a study team headed by H. Donald Wilson. One problem faced was that Little did not take into account the changes in office processes that would take place as a result of the technology. Allegedly, Data Corp. was issued a contract by the Foreign Technology Division of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The statement of work included in the contract was to write a series of classified programs that would encompass all research being done by all military forces in the U.S. The contract was broad in terms that a number of in-house programs already underway included special assignments, particularly with the Space and Missile Systems Organization on the West Coast.

Presents an interview with Richard Giering, a full-text technology expert in the U.S. Description of the formatted file system; Details on the development of the Bibliographic Data Processor; Comparison between Data Central and the Centralized Information Reference and Control System.

Presents excerpts from interviews with online wave pioneers Carlos A. Cuadra and Roger K. Summit which focus on their early experience with computers and the ways their companies managed technological innovation.

Part II. Interviews three information professionals on the role of the Committee on Scientific and Technical Information in expanding awareness among government agencies of the possibilities of online. Roger Summit of Dialog; Carlos Cuadra of ORBIT; Dick Kollin of Pandex, Magazine Index, Telebase and Easynet.

Reports on the availability of electronic books for academic and public library community users. Advantages of electronic books; Problems with Internet-based subscriptions to an electronic library collection; History of the electronic book industry; Legal issues associated with electronic books.

Discusses the advantages of the `Internet' as a source of online database information. Research organized by the National Federation of Abstracting and Information Services (NFAIS) to determine the quatifiability of Internet information; Perspectives of users on Internet searches practice; Variation of search engine preferences among librarians and information professionals. INSETS: When good searchers reach for the Net;Why good searchers stay with the traditionals.

Discusses the issue of copyright in the Internet. Hurdles in downloading content from the Internet; Scenarios on Internet copyright; Confusion on some copyright concepts, terms and conditions; Difference between `consumer' and `professional' end user; Factors on fair use; Application of the factors to the case study. INSETS: Law librarians..;Carol's favorite Internet ..;Some suggested guidelines...,by James S. Heller.;`Playing it their way': Requesting..