The IVIP Program Pilot was a partnership between MLA/ICS IVIP Program Task Force and the Taiwan Medical Library Association. The goal was for the Program Task Force to gain experience in placing an IVIP in a host institution.
The Pilot placed Mr. Chao-yu Wu from the National Taiwan University Medical Library (NTUML), in the Bracken Health Science Library of the Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, between Sept 18, 2016 to Oct 14, 2016 for 4 weeks. During that period, Chao-Yu posted a weekly blog to detail his experience in ICS Forum and Blog
Sandra Mckeown, the preceptor for Chao-yu at Bracken HSL, and Chao-yu co-authored a poster at MLA 2017 Annual Meeting, to share their experience. Sandra was on site to answer questions. IVIP program pamphlets were available at the poster site to promote the program.
The abstract of the poster is available at the Online Meeting site
Poster 113 - “Recounting the Successful Pilot of the MLA International Cooperation
Section International Visiting Health Information Professional Program”
I put up a board in the International Visitors Reception to display pictures from the pilot and basic information about the IVIP Program.
Sandra and Chao-yu gave the Task Force very useful feedback in a preliminary survey. That helps us a lot in developing the survey to be used in future placement. (Thank you very much, Sandra and Chao-yu!!) Generally, they thought that the program met their objectives, and the placement was a success.
The other part of the pilot was to place an individual MLA member in NTUML. We promoted the opportunity in the International Forum and the Meeting Blog of the MLA 2016 Annual Meeting: "MLA/ICS International Visiting Health Information Professionals Program Updates and Pilot Run". The same blog was also posted on ICS Forum and Medlib-L
In addition, we promoted the program in the MLA News, Section & SIG News, in October 2016: "International Visiting Health Information Professionals Program: Announcing the First Match!"
Three MLA members showed interest in the pilot. However, no one submitted an application.
NTUML informed us that they would not be able to host an IVIP in 2017. If a MLA member is interested to be placed in a library in Taiwan, NTUML will help to find another medical library to be the host.
Going Forward
Given the success of Chao-yu's placement, Taiwan Medical Library Association is very much interested in continuing the program. Also, Japan Medical Library Association has decided to provide a grant for a member to be an IVIP in a medical library in the US. They will accept application this year. Thus, there are interests to continue the program, at least from the international partners of MLA.
Should you have any comment or question about the IVIP Program, please contact us.
written by Kathy Kwan
Chair, MLA/ICS International Visiting Health Information Professional Program Task Force
