By Teri Hartman
VisualDX is a clinical decision support tool that merges medical images with disease information that can be searched by symptoms, visual clues, diagnosis, or medication. This resource includes over 1300 diagnoses, and over 3000 images, with information updated quarterly. Access VisualDX through the McGoogan website or Nebraska Medicine library portal, through the UpToDate resource, or via the VisualDX mobile app.
When beginning a search, enter a keyword and limit to Dx, Rx, or F for patient Finding, or simply search for the term. Example: search for Tylenol as a keyword.
The results include images of matching diagnoses, and the differential builder where findings can be added or removed. Emergencies are designated with a [E] in the title. Each diagnosis includes citations that link to open-access PubMed.
Each diagnosis includes applicable ICD 9 and ICD 10 codes, diagnostic and management pearls, differential diagnosis and pitfalls, best tests, recommended therapy, associated medications and findings, and links to dark skin images
Starting with the Differential Diagnosis button on the resource homepage connects to the clinical scenario page. In addition to pediatric and adult lesions and rashes, choices include pressure ulcer staging, child abuse recognition (this includes cultural practices that might be mistaken for abuse), marine exposures, pulmonary infection (with CT and x-ray images), and cellulitis DDx.
Topic pages can be shared by email with colleagues, even if they don’t subscribe to VisualDX. In order to serve health professionals treating disease outbreaks around the world, the company has created an open access Global Disease resource.
VisualDX is integrated into UpToDate search results. Searching UpToDate for a condition that has images included in VisualDX will include a link to images in the results.
The mobile version of VisualDX requires a free registered account. After creating the account, download the app at either Google Play or the iTunes App store, and install using the registered account id and password. An Internet connection is not required to use the mobile version of VisualDX. The mobile account must be validated once a year by logging in from an on-campus computer. Note: the mobile app does not integrate with UpToDate.
VisualDX image may also be used for educational purposes. Please see the usage guidelines.