Just as we see changes taking place in the healthcare system, we are also seeing changes take place within the publishing industry. Historically, access to peer-reviewed research and papers has been limited to those who pay membership fees to individual organizations or those working in academic institutions. As healthcare continues to change and universities are increasing the amount evidence-based medicine taught, a larger emphasis is placed on the scientific method and how to evaluate credible research. For those wanting to expand upon their education, access to scientific research can be difficult to obtain. Open-access journals have provided a platform in which individuals can easily stay up-to-date on information in his or her specialty.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.