Diagnostic error is a significant factor in patient harm and increased medical costs (http://psnet.ahrq.gov/primer.aspx?primerID=12). A free class — on how multidisciplinary teams contribute to the reduction of diagnostic error. Class focus is on evidence-based processes and the impact of librarians.

November 15, 2012
Room LL05 – Health Sciences and Human Services Library
University of Maryland Baltimore
9 am – 4pm

Session content will cover:

• Team-oriented approaches to understanding the role of information and evidence in the diagnostic process.
• Case analysis and discussion of bias.
• Partnering of librarians/informationists with clinical staff to strategize improvements
• Application of failure analysis techniques to explore system and process improvement.
• Design of evidence sharing innovations to reduce diagnostic error.
• Strategies for implementation of proposed projects.

Multi-disciplinary teams from organizations are encouraged to attend. MLA CE credits will be provided.

Register for this class at http://nnlm.gov/ntcc/classes/class_details.html?class_id=505

Marketing is pertinent in the library profession today, but many librarians who have inadvertently found themselves as their library’s marketer are not engaged in the true marketing process. In an effort to fill the gap in librarians’ education, The Accidental Library Marketer, by Kathy Dempsey, presents the process of true marketing and provides the knowledge and basics of marketing as it applies to libraries. Dempsey is a writer, editor, consultant, and passionate library advocate. She holds a degree in Journalism from Temple University and has years of experience working in libraries and publishing companies. Since 1994 Dempsey has been the sole editor of the Marketing Library Services (MLS) newsletter, published by Information Today, Inc. The MLS newsletter covers related topics in addition to marketing such as advocacy, fundraising, promotion, public relations, and outreach. The Accidental Library Marketer introduces the concept that the library profession should start thinking of libraries as businesses. Read more »

ClinicalTrials.gov, the National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) Web-based registry and results database of clinical research studies, has a new look and new content. Launched in 2000, the site has not had a major redesign since 2007.

Visitors to the site will find new style and content from the homepage, to conducting a search, to general navigation of the site.

The redesigned homepage features a new menu bar and users can access trends, charts and maps for statistical information, as well as information on clinical alerts and advisories. Site visitors can use the new menu bar from any page on the site to access five areas of content on the site. For researchers there is a section for managing study records with information on how to register and submit results. Read more »

• Up and Coming Plans for Year 2
• NN/LM MCR 2012-2013 OBJECTIVES
• Wyoming Symposium for Health Information Professionals
• Whooo Says…
• Libraries in Medical Education
• What Happens When a Pen-and-Paper Person Goes to North America’s Largest Technology Conference for Librarians
• Health Information Literacy Happenings…in Missouri

Doesn’t $1.3 million sound like a lot of money to spend? I used to think so, but since budgeting for the NN/LM MidContinental Region, I’ve been amazed at how quickly it goes. In addition to funding the Resource Libraries in each state to provide you with a coordinator as your go-to person and leadership for regional projects, what else are you getting for this money?

National Initiatives

Four national initiatives are in the planning stages for the NN/LM. Over the next 4 years, the Regional Medical Library programs will be focusing on outreach to community colleges and K-12. The RMLs will work together to support the adoption of MedlinePlus Connect into electronic medical records and promote the use of ClinicalTrials.gov. Updates will be published as plans for these initiatives are finalized. Read more »

As part of the MidContinental Region’s contract negotiation with the National Library of Medicine, we develop a list of objectives for the year. We want you to know what to expect from us too! The following is a list of our intended objectives for 2012-2013. The objectives encompass services to our Network members as well as our outreach services. These objectives are also on our web site at: ow.ly/c4uWe Read more »

The University of Wyoming Libraries will be hosting the 8^th Wyoming Symposium for Health Information Professionals:

High Altitude – Big Attitude Librarianship

in Laramie, August 15-17, 2012

The conference is for those who’d like to spend some time in the scenic Rocky Mountains, networking with colleagues, making new friends, and learning about resources.  They’ll also be discussing important issues affecting the finding of, access to and delivery of health/biomedical information.

Past conferences have attracted health sciences, public, and academic librarians, along with health professionals and representatives of community-based organizations. This year’s conference will include presentations by Coordinators from the MidContinental and Pacific Northwest Regions on resources, and opportunities to join in self-directed discussions on topics that interest the group. Read more »

Dear Whooo,

I read your column in the January 2012 issue of Plains to Peaks Post, which referred to revenue growth for nonprofit hospitals. I’m confused. I’ve always thought that a nonprofit organization is one that works for the good of the community or user group. I thought that nonprofits did not need to worry about earning money or revenue in the same way that a for-profit organization does. Can you explain this to me?

Thanks,

Fiscally Flummoxed Read more »

View from the grounds of Asilomar State Beach and Conference Center, Pacific Grove, CA
Photo by Lisa Traditi

Using the generous funding from the NN/LM MCR, I attended the 2012 WGEA and its sibling groups – all subsets of the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), held at the stunning Asilomar State Beach and Conference Center in Pacific Grove, CA. (http://www.visitasilomar.com/) Each regional AAMC GEA has its own Libraries in Medical Education (LiME) group. The WGEA LiME group started up in 2008 and meets each year at the beginning of the annual WGEA meeting.  One of four regions, the Western Region encompasses Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska – see this pdf map for all 4 regions. (https://www.aamc.org/download/65692/data/regional.pdf.pdf) Read more »