Elsevier acquires Spanish e-clinical reference solution

Elsevier (www.elsevier.com), the leading global publisher of scientific, technical, and medical information products and services, announced today the acquisition of Fisterra.com, an award winning, widely used e-clinical reference solution in Spain. Fisterra was launched in 2002 by two primary care doctors and a medical librarian in response to the need for an online short answer Spanish language reference solution to help primary care physicians.

Fisterra.com provides access to Fisterrae, an advanced e-clinical reference solution that integrates support resources for health professionals in a local language platform. Fisterrae is written by doctors and pharmacists and is kept permanently up to date by following medical journals, reviews by the Cochrane Library and the most important databases of clinical practice guidelines.

"Fisterra has been a trusted and integral partner to the Spanish medical community so we're proud of this acquisition," said Claudia Pickholz, Managing Director, Elsevier Spain. "By combining Fisterra's content with Elsevier's Spanish and English language online reference materials we can create a powerful e-clinical reference solution, provide useful and high quality content for clinical decision making and add to our range of content and support services for medical students and professionals."

Fisterra.com solutions include: clinical guides and protocols; a clinical drug database with dosage calculators; a vaccination tool; electronic continuing medical education content; and patient handouts. A mobile app suitable for point of care contexts is also in development.

"With Elsevier's broad experience in content creation and review, Fisterra.com will receive new consultation assets that satisfy the needs of its professional customers," said Arturo Louro, one of Fisterra.com's founders who will continue to consult for the site and serve on the product's new advisor board.

The website will add to Elsevier's electronic services supported by the most distinguished local authors, translations of major international references, information and first-level knowledge to individuals and groups engaged in quality health practice and research.