Librarians as Hidden Gems in a Clinical Team

Abstract

Medical librarians typically contribute to patient care from the confines of the library in response to practitioners—requests for literature searches, information pearls, and evidence-based information. While this model has long served the needs of active clinicians, the learning environment of residency programs is ripe for innovative librarian involvement. This paper illustrates how the librarian can become part of a clinical team outside of the library and provide real-time reference services while teaching by example. Benefits of the alliance include the integration of disciplines to provide enhanced resident learning and improved patient care.

Key Words:

• Clinical medical librarian
• residency programs
• medical education
• teaching hospitals
• community-based hospitals
• patient care