Education

Consumer Health Information Specialization Program

Program Goals and Description

Levels and Requirements

Application and Renewal

CHIS Recipients

CHIS Summary

CHIS Summary Chart

MLA-approved CHIS Courses (list updated 3/9/2012)

MLA-approved CHIS Courses (web-based)

Forms

MLA Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS) Policies and Procedures

Link to MLA Publishing for consumer health books for public librarians.

Instructors: Get your course approved for the CHIS program!

Program Goals and Description

The goals of MLA's Consumer Health Information Specialization are to

improve health information services for consumers,
create partners in the delivery of consumer health information, and
increase access to consumer health information courses.

Who can participate?

medical librarians
public librarians
librarians working in consumer health libraries
allied health professionals

How can the specialization benefit you?

The Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS) will help you keep current in the consumer health information field by providing access to new resources and ideas in the field. The CHIS will also help you obtain an additional level of expertise in the area of consumer health information.

Levels and Requirements

The program is divided into two0 levels of participation:

CHIS Level I	CHIS Level II
for those who desire a basic familiarity with consumer health information resources	for those who want additional training in consumer health areas
requires completion of 12 hours in approved CHIS courses	requires completion of 24 hours in approved CHIS courses
participants must have eight of the required 12 hours in MLA-approved coursework	participants must have 18 of the 24 required hours in MLA-approved coursework

Application and Renewal

Initial Application

You have three years to gather the contact hours needed to apply for the Consumer Health Information Specialization, ending with the date you submit your materials. For example, if you submit your documentation in June 2006, the hours must represent CHIS courses or activities taken beginning in June 2003. Each specialization is valid for three years after issuance and may be renewed. For the most up to date information on requirements see the CHIS Policies and Procedures [PDF] .

Academy credit

MLA hours earned through the CHIS program may be used for credit in MLA's Academy of Health Information Professionals.

CHIS courses and other activities

MLA-approved CHIS courses
You must take at least one general consumer health course from the approved MLA-approved CHIS course list. The remaining hours may come from either the general or specialty CHIS course and educational activity list. Information about MLA-approved CHIS courses and other educational activities is available on MLANET.
Courses not approved by MLA for the CHIS
If you attend an educational activity that is not approved by MLA for CHIS and would like to have it considered for your application, please fill out an Individual Participant Request (IPR) form. This form and its accompanying materials will be reviewed for credit, and you will be notified if your activity is approved.
Discussion groups
If you participate in a discussion group, you will be eligible for credits providing the articles have a consumer health focus. Please submit an IPR form for credit .

CHIS Summary

Participate in consumer health information educational activities and earn MLA CE contact hours.
Complete the CHIS Application.
If your educational activity is not an MLA-approved activity for this program, fill out an IPR form to gain credit.
Send in your completed application, CE certificates, and IPR form (if applicable) to MLA.
MLA will process your application and upon approval will send you a certificate recognizing your achievement.

CHIS Summary Chart
	Level I (NHSL & HSL)	Level II
Required hours	12 hours in approved CHIS courses and at least 3 courses or educational activities	24 hours in approved CHIS courses and at least 4 courses or educational activities
MLA-approved CHIS hours	8 hours must be in MLA-approved CHIS coursework	18 hours must be in MLA-approved CHIS coursework
Category A hours	Requires 4 hours in a Category A course	Requires 4 hours in a Category A course
Remaining hours	Requires at least 2 courses from either Category A or B	Requires at least 3 courses from either Category A or B
Basic Searching course	NHSL may take 1 basic searching class HSL may not apply a basic searching class	May not apply a basic searching class
Renewal hours	Renewal at same level = 8 hours renewal at higher level = 24 hours	Renewal at same level = 8 hours

Get your course approved for the CHIS program

Educational activities not previously approved by MLA may be considered for credit toward the CHIS specialization. Activities must focus directly on consumer health issues or the provision of consumer health information. To be considered, select "Consumer Health" under course type on the online MLA CE application. You can also contact Debra Cavanaugh for more information.