I’m constantly searching for JBJS content to do my job at The Journal. That’s why I’m thrilled with the power, speed, and accuracy of the new search engine that’s at the heart of the reimagined and reengineered jbjs.org.
Here are just a few examples of what happens when you use the “enter a search query” bar at the top of every page on the new website:
- As you type a common orthopaedic word, such as distal, you get a drop-down list of popular terms with that word included. Very often, what you’re looking for is in the list, so you can stop typing and simply click. (This works just like a popular feature in an often-used search engine that I won’t name here.)
- When you search a phrase or condition, such as distal radial fracture, you get relevant articles, images, videos, webinars, and podcasts from the flagship JBJS, as well as from JBJS Essential Surgical Techniques, JBJS Reviews, JBJS Open Access, and JBJS Case Connector. You can also easily filter your results by publication name.
- If you know the digital object identifier (DOI) of a JBJS article of interest, simply paste it into the search bar (beginning with the numeral 10), and you’ll get that specific result. The same holds true for complete or partial article titles, even if they are long.
- When you search for an author by last name, your top hits are articles in which that name appears as an article author, rather than articles in which it appears in the reference list.
- Once you’ve found what you’re looking for, click on the star icon to automatically save the item to your customized “My JBJS” folder.
In developing this improved search experience, JBJS listened to a broad array of orthopaedic website users, young and old. Over the last five-plus years, this (old) user has searched for JBJS content on four different platforms using four different search tools, and this one is by far the most satisfying.
Complimentary access to the new jbjs.org is available until March 1, 2018.
Lloyd Resnick
JBJS Developmental Editor