NEW YORK, April 4 /PRNewswire/ --

- Database Provides World-Class Research to Social Science Academics and Specialists

Ovid Technologies, an internationally recognized leader of electronic medical, scientific, and social sciences information solutions, today announced the exclusive availability of the Social Policy and Practice bibliographic database on the SilverPlatter platform. Social Policy and Practice is an essential tool for academics, researchers and policy-makers worldwide working within human resources, public safety, social services, social administration, economic and social development, social work, social work education and care management. The database provides evidence-based social research in such topics as public and social policy, public health, social care, mental and community health, among others.

"We are pleased to offer this unique database of applied research in social services as exclusive content on our robust platform," said Scott MacFarland, Vice President of Content Product Management at Ovid. "Because customers require research across a wide range of disciplines, Social Policy and Practice is an important addition to our database offering, and is a cost-effective resource for this targeted group to search many necessary, but oftentimes, hard to find resources."

The Social Policy and Practice database is comprised of over 200,000 bibliographic records and abstracts referencing materials held by four highly-respected UK-based organizations; Centre for Policy on Ageing, Greater London Authority, IDOX, and the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). A significant number of references are 'grey' literature - semi-published reports, surveys and statistics - giving unparalleled insight into difficult-to-obtain resources and many areas frequently overlooked by other social science sources. The database includes records dating from 1981 with an average of 20,000 new records added annually.

"The new Social Policy and Practice database will provide one stop access to information on this key subject area from four prestigious U.K. organizations," said Annabel Davies, Head of the Research Library at the Greater London Authority. "It's a very welcome development which will make life easier for users and ensure that information from specialist database producers reaches a wider audience."

Ovid worked closely with the four information sources to produce the Social Policy and Practice database as part of Ovid's Partner Publishing program. The program provides expert database design and development services to bring important bibliographic resources to market.

About Ovid

Ovid (www.ovid.com) is an information solutions provider focused on offering the combination of content, tools and services that makes research smarter, faster and more effective. Ovid energizes the thinking of researchers and clinicians by developing the individualized experience each customer needs. We support Ovid Online and SilverPlatter Online customers, and provide a local solution for customers requiring offline access. Ovid is used by the world's leading colleges and universities; medical schools; academic research libraries and library consortia; hospitals and healthcare systems; pharmaceutical, engineering and biotechnology companies; HMOs and clinical practices. Ovid is an operating company of Wolters Kluwer Health (WKHealth), a division of Wolters Kluwer nv, a leading multinational publisher and information services company with annual sales as of 2003 of more than EUR3.4 billion and approximately 19,500 employees worldwide.

About the Publisher Organizations

The Centre for Policy on Ageing has a remit to focus on the wide ranging needs of older people, informing and influencing service providers and advocating what older people themselves want and need.

The Greater London Authority is a unique form of strategic citywide government for London.

IDOX Plc is a leading information management technology and services provider.

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) is an independent registered charity with a role to develop and promote good practice in social care.

Helen Baker, Edelman, +44-(0)20-7344-1285, Helen.baker@edelman.com