Medical search engine system method and software product

A method for managing medical information on a networked computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

• displaying, on a networked computer system, a preferences interface from which a searcher can create a custom profile;
• creating, on a networked computer system, a custom profile with source weighting criteria selected by the searcher for a plurality of medical sources identified in the preferences interface;
• displaying, on a networked computer system, a search interface for input of a search string, wherein the search interface includes a profile selection portion from which a searcher can select an active profile from a plurality of profiles, including:
• (1) one or more profiles indicative of healthcare worker types, that include predefined weighting criteria which ranks the plurality of medical sources according to suitability with respective healthcare worker types and (2) the custom profile;
• setting, on a networked computer system, the active profile responsive to a selection made by a searcher interacting with the search interface;
• performing, on a networked computer system, a real time search using the search string by accessing at least two medical sources to produce a set of search results, the sources being electronically accessible via a communications network;
• ranking, on a networked computer system, the set of search results according to the active profile;
• and
• displaying, on a networked computer system, the set of search results in a browseable format according to the ranking step.