Kate Corcoran : Use this area to enter comments about the Informationist Task Force draft action agenda! Your comments are appreciated.
Peggy : I think these objectives and the strategies to meet these objectivers are excellent - the work of this group is impressive. I would strongly push for working toward the goal, "Inventory and critically analyze current examples of in-context information specialists and their funding". There are CML programs in this nation that may be doing what is envisioned of an informationist now - we should do all we can to identify these programs and help them reach excellence before we invent something new.
Mike K : I find that the draft action agenda has presented a well thought out approach on how to further develop the Informationist concept both in terms of what it means and how it relates to librarians but I have one suggestion and one major concern. My suggestion is to add an additional Strategy to Objective 1 which focuses on exploring the current, evolving role of the hospital library and its emerging role as the KBI unit within the hospital MI structure and how this new role relates to the Informationalist concept. In the 1990’s as the Web emerged and JCAHO shifted from a departmental approach to a functional approach the role of the hospital library has been changing from the running of the library to overall responsibility for developing systems and services to support access and use of KBI throughout the institution with an emphasis on point of care access. While most hospital libraries are not administratively part of the IT Department (Medical Records Departments are also separate from IT Departments) they have the key responsibility for ensuring that the hospital meets the JCAHO KBI requirements. As the concept of the Informationalist is developed its needs to be done within the context of the evolving role and nature of the hospital library. My major concern with the Agenda is that there is still not a statement or examination of the problem the Informationalist is designed to solve. Is the major problem the difficulty in the assimilation and adoption of new medical knowledge by clinicians? Is it more of the nature of the Clinical Pharmacist in providing a consultative support of patient care teams? Is it to because clinicians are too busy or lazy to adequately consult KBI? Is it because many clinicans do not know how to consult electronic based KBI? Over the past several years MLA has supported examination and CE instructional opportunities for the Evidence-based Medicine approach to evaluating KBI and of the Information Literacy concept for making clinicians more effective KBI users. Vendors are developing new systems to make state of the art KBI information available to clinicians in an easy to use format (examples are Up to Date, PDxMD, and E-Medicine are 3 examples). Academic medical center libraries are developing systems to directly tie KBI into the electronic medical record and to have it available at point of care (for an example see Fuller SS et al Integrating knowledge resources at the point of care: opportunities for librarian. BMLA, 87(4), Oct. 1999, pp393-403). With out a clear understanding of the problem of clinican access and use of KBI we can not examine the Informationalist concept in the context of these other developments in access to and use of KBI. In my mind we should be looking at defining and understanding this problem and then try to look at the different approaches to develop strategies to use and integrate the different advances in clinician access to and use of KBI towards what is the ultimate goal of KBI systems (as with all hospital systems) – more efficient and effective patient care and outcomes. The Informationalist concept may well have a significant role in these strategies but may that provide the only answer to the problem.
GRINCH : Perhaps the proponents of the the 'new librarian' called the 'Informationist' would consider changing that title to the 'Mythinformationist'a more accurate description. Information is a perishable commodity if not closely tuned to the latest developments - so too the 'Informationist'. The idea is badly conceived, similar to the idea of having a separate librarian for 'consumer health'. Rather than accepting the broad range of skills performed by those within the profession (including para-professionals), the concept of the 'Informationist' is nothing more than a separation or division among those working in the field of library and information services. If the question is a matter of information supply, then the best policy might be to increase the number of well-stocked libraries, rather than feather the nest of a few. Information is data it does not enhance understanding and knowledge unless it is applied correctly.
LoisWeinstein : How much of the budget is the MLA Board authorizing to accomplish the goals and objectives set forth in the agenda?
Debbie A. : Before anything else is done, the job description for an "informationist" needs to be detailed. Is this just another name for "librarian" or are there other skills we need that have not already been identified for our specialty? Is this not just another role for the librarian? I would not want our hospital administrators to go out and hire an "informationist" and then fire our medical librarians. Let's be careful not to weaken our profession. Let's identify the new role and the duties/skills involved and incorporate those into the librarian's job description. If this means the hospital or health care facility needs to hire another librarian to accomplish these goals due to time constraints then so be it. If there is an increase in salary because of an increase in responsibilities, then all the better!
Diane Schwartz : My comments respond in part to the questions raised by both Davidoff and Florance. Models of practice: As a hospital (health-system) library director I can forsee several models whereby an informationist can serve a dynamic and exciting role, beyond that of the clinical librarian. For example, more direct responsibility for teaching/training in the areas of evidence-based health care and population-based medicine. Working with the quality team to develop and implement quality improvement practices and help bring those practices into the work setting. Working with directors of student, resident and continuing education programs to develop instructional modules on culturally competent care and the improvement of communication skills. These are all important issues in the setting where I work. We are currently involved in some of this work, but I would not refer to any of the current librarians as either clinical librarians or informationists. Thus, it would be ideal to have someone available who had a broader set of knowledge, skills and abilities in these domains. In the hospital setting I believe it will be important for the library to serve as the base of operations for the informationist because it will demonstrate an evolving role for both the hospital library and the library's conceptualization of the staff it needs to be successful in the 21st century. Having the informationist be a library staff member will also serve an instructional role for the more traditional librarians on the staff. And I believe this is essential to the longterm health of the hospital library. Training for the role in the hospital setting: Select a current health sciences librarian to participate in an advanced training program to become an informationists. A two-year work study program leading to an M.P.H. degree would be required. The selection criteria for acceptance into the program would include, but not be limited to demonstrated risk taking skills, creativity, the ability to work independently. Ideas for funding: Seek financial support from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in combination with NLM. A joint RFP could be issued much like the the way the medical inforatics training program RFPs were handled and Institutions/organizations could respond with proposals. It will be essential to develop strong evaluation programs to assess program outcomes and impact.
helen-ann : This is a great document! I have been conducting a feasibility study entitled, "is there an informationist in our future" on a Medical School Campus in New York since the summer and the concerns stated in this document have been my concerns. I would emphasize a stronger relationship with Library Schools, Graduate Medical Schools or Schools of Public Health that offer study in informatics, epidemiology and biostatistics. I would emphasize a stronger relationship with Medical Schools, PreMed programs that would teach basic sciences. I would consider adding information resource providers, like Ovid, EBSCO, Excerpta Medica as potential funding resources to support practicums and training activities because the informationist may indeed be using their products to advance patient care. again congratulations. all your hardwork is going to make a difference!
Julie S : The Action Plan is an exciting beginning in the development of the Informationist. I feel Objective 5, training and education, should perhaps be Objective 1. As librarians we need more background in order to contribute in a timely and meaningful way. I am thinking of expanded education in medicine, therapeutics, and statistics. The clinicians I am currently working with are sophisticated information users with time critical information needs. I often feel I am inadequately prepared to work with them. In order to contribute to their daily information needs, I wish that I knew more about the conditions of the patients they are treating. In order to better judge the quality of the studies I provide them, I wish I had better knowledge of biomedical statistics. I agree with Helen-ann's concept of alliances with educational institutions which can provide this background for librarians. I would add Colleges of Pharmacy to her list. I also see the informationist as a member of the health care team so promotion of these collaborative educational experiences could expand to collaborative clerkships, a librarian and a medical student working together for example. Stipends and grants giving librarians and library budgets the financial support to attempt innovation are a necessary part of the first step. What an exciting time to be a medical librarian!
AnnaH. : I agree with Debbie A. that this may be another role for the librarian. I also agree with JulieS. in that it would be helpful for librarians to obtain more education both to perform our roles better and to relate better to the others on the patient care team. I feel the key "TO DO" on the Agenda is 1.2.e."Differentiate role of informationist from other information professionals,e.g.,librarians, clinical medical librarians, informaticians, etc." because I am not convinced we need to "invent" a new profession. I hope those who will work on the Action Agenda will remember that the overall goal at this time is "to further expand and clarify the concept..."
MCM : I most agree with the comments put forth by Debbie A. The term "informationist" is so nebulous and overbroad. Is that the intent? It sounds a bit pretentious and we do need to nail down what skills and job duties are going to be involved. Will those identifiable skills and duties be enough to justify differentiating the informationist from the librarian?
AnnaH. : Current Clinical Medical Librarian Programs should be documented and evaluated. Since these programs have not spread much and are not standardly in every academic teaching hospital, we should know why. Whatever stopped them from spreading might also be a hindrance for the "informationist". Examining the role of a clinical librarian vs. an informationist would also be important.
Michele K-F : I think the priorities for exploration of the informationist concepts need to be focused on 1.3 -Developing practice protocols and standards and objective 2.2- esp determining the impact on outcomes. Before we consider how people might enter the field, I think exploration of the regulatory requirements for reinbursement need considered. How people are paid for cognitive services might influence how the professional is structured. Lastly, there are social aspects to information-seeking behavior that need included in the research. Are people looking for information, affirmation or consultation?
Nancy R : There are lots of good ideas in the draft. I thought mostly about priorities and about what groups might take on different parts of the agenda. In my view, the concept of the informationist is still evolving, so a high priority is analysis and further testing of this and related concepts. Key operational areas to consider are the definition, training, outcomes and funding. I would suggest that promotion come later, after we are in better agreement about what we are promoting. I would hope that NLM would be willing to fund some testing of the informationist concept, particularly with a view towards a more specific definition and consideration of outcomes. IMLS might be willing to fund actitivy related to training, either under their ongoing program or with the new funds provided through Mrs. Bush. Things that the MLA task force might do include encouraging action in this area, acting as a clearinghouse of information (especially on job descriptions, definitions, skills, etc.), and analysing definitions and job descriptions with a view towards building a consensus.