Standards for hospital libraries 2002

Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association, 2020

The research clearly demonstrates that hospital libraries are integral to a hospital's quality and safety systems. They make substantial and essential contributions through their professional information/knowledge management services and by ensuring access to evidence-based resources. The research found that there are varying levels of contributions, however, and it is suggested that these differences may be influenced by variables such as location and size of hospital. It is further suggested that for hospitals without a library service, or those with libraries that have limited capacity to deliver professional services and resources, there is likely to be an 'evidence-accessibility gap', and they may be at risk and not performing as well as they could in regard to NSQHS accreditation standards, and safety and quality systems.

Journal of the Medical Library Association JMLA

The research objectives were to (1) describe the current and future roles of hospital librarians and the challenges they face and (2) find evidence supporting the hypothesis that librarians are essential to hospitals in achieving the organizations' mission-critical goals. The authors used results from a previous research study that identified the five organizational mission-critical goals important to hospital administrators and then searched the literature and solicited examples from hospital librarians to describe the librarian's role in helping hospitals achieve these goals. The literature supports the hypothesis that hospital librarians play important roles in the success of the hospital. Librarians support quality clinical care, efficient and effective hospital operations, continuing education for staff, research and innovation, and patient, family, and community health information needs. Hospital librarians fulfill many mission-critical roles in today's hospital, p...

Health Information & …, 2009

Objective : An updated systematic review was carried out of research studies looking at the value and impact of library services on health outcomes for patients and time saved by health professionals. Methods : A comprehensive systematic search was undertaken of the published literature to September 2003 in  ,  ,  ,  ,  , the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register and Google. Some handsearching was carried out, reference lists were scanned and experts in the field were contacted. Twentyeight research studies of professionally led libraries for health-care staff, including clinical librarian projects, met the inclusion criterion of at least one health or 'time saved' outcome. Papers were critically appraised using internationally accepted criteria. Data were extracted and results were summarised using a narrative format as the studies were heterogeneous and precluded a statistical analysis. Results : There is evidence of impact from both traditional and clinical librarian services. The higher quality studies of traditional services measured impacts of 37-97% on general patient care, 10 -31% on diagnosis, 20 -51% on choice of tests, 27-45% on choice of therapy and 10 -19% on reduced length of stay. Four studies of clinical librarian projects suggested that professionals saved time as a result of clinical librarian input, and two of these studies showed evidence of cost-effectiveness. However, the clinical librarian studies were generally smaller, with poorer quality standards. Conclusions : Research studies suggest that professionally led library services have an impact on health outcomes for patients and may lead to time savings for health-care professionals. The available studies vary greatly in quality but the better quality studies also suggest positive impacts. Good practice can be gathered from these studies to guide the development of a pragmatic survey for library services that includes the direct effects for patients among the outcome measures.

PubMed, 1993

A management information system (MIS) provides a means for collecting, reporting, and analyzing data from all segments of an organization. Such systems are common in business but rare in libraries. The Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library developed an MIS that operates on a system of networked IBM PCs and Paradox, a commercial database software package. The data collected in the system include monthly reports, client profile information, and data collected at the time of service requests. The MIS assists with enforcement of library policies, ensures that correct information is recorded, and provides reports for library managers. It also can be used to help answer a variety of ad hoc questions. Future plans call for the development of an MIS that could be adapted to other libraries' needs, and a decision-support interface that would facilitate access to the data contained in the MIS databases.

Informology, 2023

Hospital libraries as an important part of the hospital are effective in functions such as patient care, patient education, performance improvement, and patient safety. The purpose of this study is to identify the components of library services to patients in hospital libraries based on IFLA goals. This qualitative study was conducted using content analysis. By purposive sampling, 17 people of librarians of hospital libraries in seven provinces of Iran were interviewed using depth and semi-structured interviews. After extracting the primary codes, they were classified in 11 main categories and 24 sub-categories. Based on data from this study, 11 main categories and 24 sub-categories of components of Library Services to Patients in Hospital Libraries were extracted. These components are: “Goal setting to improve the health of patients”, “Standardization of library services to patients”, “Use of hospital librarians”, “Bibliotherapy services”, “Information needs assessment of hospital library users”, “Providing information services to health care staff”, “Provision of resources suitable for hospital activities”, “Remote information Services”, “Assist in patient education after discharge”, “Beautifying the library space” and “Providing of social and spiritual resources”. Main components and sub-categories of library services to patients in hospital libraries resulted from this study can use as a model can be considered as a model for providing information services to patients and their companions in hospital libraries.

Journal of Philippine Librarianship, 2016

Medical Librarianship is a service profession and is one of the most diverse non-traditional career paths available. It is an integral part of the health care team with direct impact on health and patient care quality. The focus of medical librarians is to put emphasis on the use of evidence based research and practice since most of them are applied where health information is needed. The standards for medical librarianship were already a subject of interest before 1950’s. The purpose of this study is to monitor the preparedness of medical and health libraries in the Philippines prior to the approval of the standards by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). Specifically, it sought to answer the following: (1) What types of medical and health libraries are following the 2007 standards; (2) Determine the current practices of medical and health libraries/librarians in reference to the 2013 revised standards; (3) How prepared are these libraries in reference to the 2013 revised ...

Journal of the Medical Library Association : JMLA, 2013

The research conducted a large-scale, multisite study on the value and impact of library and information services on patient care. Methods: The study used: (1) 2 initial focus groups of librarians; (2) a web-based survey of physicians, residents, and nurses at 56 library sites serving 118 hospitals; and (3) 24 follow-up telephone interviews. Survey respondents were asked to base their responses on a recent incident in which they had sought information for patient care. Results: Of the 16,122 survey respondents, 3/4 said that they had definitely or probably handled aspects of the patient care situation differently as a result of the information. Among the reported changes were advice given to the patient (48%), diagnosis (25%), and choice of drugs (33%), other treatment (31%), and tests (23%). Almost all of the respondents (95%) said the information resulted in a better informed clinical decision. Respondents reported that the information allowed them to avoid the following adverse events: patient misunderstanding of the disease (23%), additional tests (19%), misdiagnosis (13%), adverse drug reactions (13%), medication errors (12%), and patient mortality (6%). Conclusions: Library and information resources were perceived as valuable, and the information obtained was seen as having an impact on patient care.

2011

Practice-based learning and improvement that involves investigation and evaluation of care for their patients, the appraisal and assimilation of scientific evidence, and improvements in patient care.

Hypothesis

Objectives: To assess the current landscape of hospital libraries by collecting benchmarking data from hospital librarians in the U.S. and other countries. Since the last MLA benchmarking survey in 2002 hospital libraries have faced significant changes including downsizing, position and library elimination, and hospital mergers. This survey will provides information to inform the development and implementation of effective advocacy for hospital libraries. Methods: A web-based, anonymous survey was designed to collect information from hospital librarians representing stand-alone hospitals and hospital systems. The 57-question survey was distributed via select list servs, targeting the US and Canada but open to any country. The topic areas covered hospital/health system, library, and library staff demographics; library characteristics and scope of service; interlibrary loan and document delivery; library funding; and library budget. Hospital library benchmarking surveys, including the...

2005

Aims/objectives : To undertake an information-needs analysis of operating theatre staff in order to inform the development of a specialist library of the National Electronic Library of Health (NeLH). Setting : Three hospitals in an NHS Trust in a rural county in the north of England. Methods : In-depth interviews, during which staff were questioned in regard to their job roles and information needs, information-seeking behaviour, access to computers, use and perceptions of the NeLH, and what they would like from a specialist library. Results : Information needs were found to concern direct care, professional and academic development, medical devices knowledge and administration. Currency and speed of delivery were the key information requirements. Poor communication appeared to be a major problem for many staff and inhibited efficient information exchange. When using the Web, both clinical and nonclinical staff searched in a similar fashion to health consumers generally, despite their need for highly specialist information. Most respondents reacted warmly to the idea of the proposed National Electronic Library for Theatre Staff (NeLTS) and made several practical suggestions for suitable material. However, access was problematic for nurses and might prove to be an obstacle to take-up of the Specialist Library. Conclusions : Communication difficulties, the fragmentation of data in the field and the consequent difficulties of finding information point to the need for an NeLTS. However, for this library to embrace and succeed with all the various groups that constitute the operating theatre staff, issues of access and digital literacy need to be addressed.

Journal of The Medical Library Association, 2009

Objective: Using a group consensus methodology, the research sought to generate a list of the twelve to fifteen most important and answerable research questions in health sciences librarianship as part of a broader effort to implement the new Medical Library Association (MLA) research policy.

Hospital Topics, 1975

2008

Health units, and in particular hospitals, manage huge volumes of information concerning citizens, patients, medicines, biomedical equipment, scientific knowledge, the operation of facilities. To manage all this information it is necessary to develop appropriate information systems. The development of information systems has brought to the fore terms such as the Electronic Medical Record (EMR). The Electronic Medical Record is designed to stabilize and enhance the patient's treatment, examinations, laboratory results, and to be recorded alongside other health services, providing information in a single portable and flexible file. The role of Medical Librarians in creating an Electronic Medical Record in a hospital is important. Librarians need to build different relationships with doctors in order to work together to implement the Electronic Medical Record. In addition, hospital librarians may need to follow the instructions and developments in primary health care that take into account the implementation of the Electronic Medical Record. Existing online libraries, such as medical databases, may be involved in the implementation of the Electronic Medical Record. The hospital librarian must be strategically prepared to document and explain the need for ongoing access to online resources in the new Electronic Medical Record environment.