By Andrew Youngkin, Emerging Technologies and Evaluation Coordinator

I attended the Computers in Libraries conference, held in Washington, DC, March 20-24, 2012. The conference theme was “Creating Innovative Libraries” with a full schedule of workshops, sessions, keynote speakers, and networking events. The aim of these sessions was to discuss and explore ways in which libraries can, and have been embracing technology to support, extend, and/or strengthen library services.

My focus during the conference was to assess what new and emerging technologies were being introduced and used in library environments. This would allow me, in turn, to share this information with colleagues and with class participants planning to attend technology classes I will soon be offering. With that in mind, I attended sessions on screen-casting, social media marketing, cloud computing, QR codes, E-books, augmented reality, mobile technologies, Google+, and interactive and educational media, tools, and products. Thanks to the wide range of offerings, I walked away with many new and/or enhanced knowledge innovation technologies that libraries might consider implementing or adopting.

There were some overall impressions that I brought home:

•  There are many technologies out there—especially in regards to social media, collaboration & communication tools, and learning assessment/management.
• Not all technologies are appropriate for all libraries.
• Libraries will need to assess those technologies that are most appropriate for them and their users/patrons/learners.
• Technology should be purpose-driven and not adopted simply for the sake of adopting new technology, thus “Purpose driven, user-centered.”
• Libraries—especially public libraries (based on what I saw) are doing some really cool stuff with emerging technologies and often on dramatically reduced budgets.
• Libraries using new technologies to solve all sorts of problems and fill a variety of needs—from a cloud-based ILS, to social media marketing campaigns that rival traditional models and augmented reality programs to deliver information experiences to patrons.

It was great to not only get insight into some new technologies but also very eye opening to see the different ways libraries were able to make them work at their institutions. I look forward to integrating as much of my learning as possible into future classes and presentations. For further information, please contact Andrew at ayoungki@hshsl.umaryland.edu.

Date:  April 18th, 2012

Time:  Noon to 1:00 pm (EST)

Presenter: Janet Schneider

Bio:  Janet Schneider is recently-retired Chief of Library Service at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, Florida.  She was instrumental in the formation of one of the first VA patient education library programs in the nation in 1976, and has spent her professional career in promoting the librarian as an integral part of the health care team. She has worked to advance the rights of patients to access reader-appropriate evidence-based information, including their own health records, in order to make informed decisions about their health care. She has chaired the VA Library Network’s (VALNET) Consumer Health Library Panel, and has authored numerous articles and one book chapter on patient education and consumer health issues. She began a formal information therapy program in 1997, and has been involved with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs electronic patient health record program “My HealtheVet (www.myhealth.va.gov) since its inception in 2001.

Presentation:  Electronically Embedded:  Librarians and the Electronic Medical Record

Electronic medical records (EMRs) are increasingly being implemented by health care organizations and private practitioners.  The benefits to patients and health care organizations are great, providing continuity of care and patient safety through clinician access to one’s comprehensive health records. Librarians have the opportunity to provide point of care resources directly through the EMR as well as participate in information therapy services, to provide consumer health information in collaboration with the referring clinicians. A case report of how  Veterans Healthcare Administration librarians are providing services and resources through the VA’s Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and My HealtheVet web portal will be presented.

How to get connected:

What do you need to join these conferences?

• A computer (with Flash installed)
• A telephone

How do I connect?
Go to this URL: http://webmeeting.nih.gov/beyondthesea
Enter as a Guest
Sign in with your first and last name
Follow the instructions in the meeting room to have Adobe Connect call your phone or call 1-800-605-5167 and enter the participant code 227471 when prompted.

Date:  April 18th, 2012

Time:  Noon to 1:00 pm (EST)

Presenter: Janet Schneider

Bio:  Janet Schneider is recently-retired Chief of Library Service at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, Florida.  She was instrumental in the formation of one of the first VA patient education library programs in the nation in 1976, and has spent her professional career in promoting the librarian as an integral part of the health care team. She has worked to advance the rights of patients to access reader-appropriate evidence-based information, including their own health records, in order to make informed decisions about their health care. She has chaired the VA Library Network’s (VALNET) Consumer Health Library Panel, and has authored numerous articles and one book chapter on patient education and consumer health issues. She began a formal information therapy program in 1997, and has been involved with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs electronic patient health record program “My HealtheVet (www.myhealth.va.gov) since its inception in 2001.

Presentation:  Electronically Embedded:  Librarians and the Electronic Medical Record

Electronic medical records (EMRs) are increasingly being implemented by health care organizations and private practitioners.  The benefits to patients and health care organizations are great, providing continuity of care and patient safety through clinician access to one’s comprehensive health records. Librarians have the opportunity to provide point of care resources directly through the EMR as well as participate in information therapy services, to provide consumer health information in collaboration with the referring clinicians. A case report of how  Veterans Healthcare Administration librarians are providing services and resources through the VA’s Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and My HealtheVet web portal will be presented.

How to get connected:

What do you need to join these conferences?

• A computer (with Flash installed)
• A telephone

How do I connect?
Go to this URL: http://webmeeting.nih.gov/beyondthesea
Enter as a Guest
Sign in with your first and last name
Follow the instructions in the meeting room to have Adobe Connect call your phone or call 1-800-605-5167 and enter the participant code 227471 when prompted.

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is conducting a needs assessment for the Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB).

Please assist us in gathering valuable information from current and potential new HSDB users by completing the following online survey. Your feedback will help NLM determine future enhancements and/or changes that may be necessary to better serve users and to ensure that HSDB continues to be a valuable toxicology and environmental health resource in the future.

The survey is available at HSDB Needs Assessment Survey. We would very much appreciate your response by April 3, 2012.

Thank you for your time, input and interest.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=6dwQV3gn9efOhrwMaBwylg_3d_3d

In December 2011, I became the newest member of the Regional Medical Library team for the Southeastern Atlantic region based at the Human Services & Health Sciences Library at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. As Emerging Technologies & Evaluation Coordinator, my role will be aimed at supporting member libraries discover applications for emerging technologies and plan ways of incorporating new technology into various facets of library programming. I will also be responsible for helping member libraries understand the importance and power of employing evaluation to measure, advocate, challenge, support, promote and validate their efforts to accomplish their missions and support their patrons.

Teaching

In the first few months of my position, I’ve been working to understand the varied and diverse needs within the region in regards to emerging technologies and evaluation. Currently, I’ve gleaned much of my understanding from the types of popular courses offered in the past as well as those courses and topics that technology coordinators from other regions have identified and targeted. In the near future,  I will be conducting a more structured needs assessment and evaluation within the region so that I can be sure I’m in tune with the specific instructional needs of members in the Southeastern Atlantic region and that my approach is tailored accordingly. As I learn more about the instructional needs of network members and in the spirit of ‘hitting the ground running,’ I’m currently accepting class requests for the following courses: 

• Geeks Bearing Gifts: unwrapping new technology trends
• Screencasting: Creating Online Tutorials
• Super Searcher

We also plan to offer online versions of some of the technology and evaluation courses in an attempt to accommodate those in the region who prefer an electronic format or who may be limited in their ability to travel to in-person sessions. Currently, an online version of Geeks Bearing Gifts: Unwrapping new Technology Trends is being planned and tentatively scheduled for the latter part of 2012. Those interested in participating may contact me to stay updated.

Funding

Funding for technology projects as well as evaluation/assessment efforts is currently available. Through specific technology-focused awards, we aim to assist member libraries with projects that strive to adopt existing or emerging technologies to develop or extend specific services, address unique needs, accomplish a challenging project, or enhance accessibility of resources to users.  Some of the technology-specific awards now available with an application deadline of March 9, 2012 include the following: 

• Express Library Technology Improvement Award
  Express Library Digitization and Conservation Award
• Information Technology and Policy Awareness Award
• Express Mobile Technology Project Award

Funding is also available to support evaluation and assessment with the Express Planning and Assessment Award. 

I’ll be glad to answer any questions with regard to any of these funding opportunities and/or the application process. The March 9, 2012 deadline is fast approaching, so don’t hesitate if you have questions or ideas.

As I set out to further explore my new role and responsibilities, I look forward to hearing from you—and hopefully meeting many of you in person soon.

Andrew Youngkin, Emerging Technologies/Evaluation Coordinator,  ayoungki@hshsl.umaryland.edu or 800-338-7657

by Terri Ottosen, Consumer Health Coordinator, NN/LM, SE/A and Andrew Youngkin, Emerging Technologies/Evaluation Coordinator, NN/LM, SE/A

Last month in Las Vegas, the 44th annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) — dubbed “the world’s largest consumer technology show” — allowed companies to announce new products and showcase exciting and innovative new products, devices, and technologies. It also offered consumers, retailers, and industry insiders a birds-eye view of emerging tech trends to come. Of particular significance to health care consumers, the 2012 CES included the first Digital Health Summit to promote and facilitate conversation surrounding the growing volume and increased presence of mobile health or “mHealth,” and the overall trend of emerging consumer-focused technologies designed to monitor, assess, and communicate about various areas of our health and well-being.

Healthcare consumers are experiencing a revolution in technology and unprecedented information access that empowers them to incorporate new mHealth tools into their daily lives. The fact that the largest consumer electronics show added a digital health summit for the first time this year points to the wave of the future. Companies are focusing on creating new products, apps, and devices that enhance health and give patients access to appropriate care that improves outcomes while helping to manage escalating costs. These new products focus on prevention and wellness and raised the level of excitement among the conference attendees and the public at large. Dr. Eric Topol of Scripps Health delivered two keynote presentations at the conference. He spoke about personalized medicine and the idea that a newer, more precise method of characterizing the genetic qualities of individual patients for diagnosis and treatment is at odds with the century old population-based practice of medicine. “Wireless medicine is not some sort of far-fetched science fiction dream – it’s real and it’s here right now.” He believes that none of these things will happen, however, unless consumers become informed about these new technologies and lead the revolution. [1]

Personalized medicine through the genomic revolution is one of the most intriguing ideas in healthcare today. One of the most talked about products at the summit was the Life Technologies Ion Proton Genetic Sequencer. Dan Costa of PC Mag called it “the coolest thing I saw at CES 2012.” [2] A full genome sequence can be completed in one day using this machine, which costs about the same as an MRI machine. What used to cost approximately $10,000 now can be done for $1000 per sequence. And as the technology continues to improve, the cost of the machine and the time and cost to do the analysis will continue to drop. There are still many unknowns when it comes to using genomic data in healthcare, but machines like this are going to make it possible for medicine to find new ways to use this data for good, including personalizing medications tailored to an individual’s genetic makeup.

Many other products were also featured at the show and included robotic aids, tele-health systems, remote monitoring devices for the home, electronic medical records, and therapeutic and diagnostic medical devices. The opportunities are endless when it comes to these technologies which can eliminate distance and borders and be preventive in their approaches. Apps, including games, can reinforce healthy behaviors and help people monitor vital information to take more control of their own health. There were over 20,000 new products launched at this year’s convention, so it can be a bit overwhelming. However, some products could make an even bigger splash this year. One such buzzed about product is the Doctor in Your Car, which is to be developed by Ford and Microsoft this spring as a method of monitoring the health and wellness of drivers. Inventors say the idea for this technology stemmed from a Pew Research study that found 93% of people say they search online health information because of its convenience. The study also found that 83% seek online health information because they get more information from the Internet than their own doctor. [3] The goal for the developers is to determine how to noninvasively extend health management into the personal vehicle using wearable devices that will monitor health data such as blood pressure, heart rates, glucose levels, and behavioral data.

There’s no question that we, as health consumers, will be exposed to these new technologies and that they will change our lives. There are still hurdles to overcome, but we are at an exciting junction. We are delicately poised on the edge of the revolution and are indeed living in interesting times. The following link is to a video available on the challenges of mHealth, made at the Digital Health Summit, and provides further insight into these technologies and their challenges: http://healthworkscollective.com/node/27831

From the daily lives of consumers to the daily practices of healthcare providers, to medical school classrooms and health sciences libraries, technology has made and will continue to make consumer healthcare more mobile, more visible, more accessible, and more personal.

Andrew Youngkin has joined the staff of the NN/LM SE/A as our new Emerging Technologies/Evaluation Coordinator as of December 5, 2011.

Andrew earned an MLS from Emporia State University in 2005 and a B.A. from the University of Utah in 2002. Most recently, Andrew worked as a reference librarian at the EPA Headquarters and Chemical Libraries in Washington, D.C. Prior to the EPA, Andrew served a mid-size community hospital for 3 years as a senior medical librarian, managing day-to-day library operations, teaching information literacy, and providing reference and research to hospital staff, patients, and administrators. Andrew enjoys teaching and writing with professional interests that include new and emerging technologies, assessment and evaluation, and health information literacy. When not working, Andrew pursues a range of outdoor activities, traveling, and keeping up with his kids, ages 5 & 7.

Andrew’s email address is: ayoungki@hshsl.umaryland.edu

The National Library of Medicine® (NLM®) has a new blog, ReferencePoint, targeting health sciences library staff in the U.S. and abroad.

ReferencePoint postings will:

• Increase the awareness of NLM products and services available online and onsite.
• Inform the targeted audiences about health sciences resources outside of NLM.
• Promote dialogue and learning exchanges between NLM staff and staff at other libraries.

More information is available in the current issue of the TB Article, at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/ja11/ja11_ref_blog.html.

Today, the National Library of Medicine changed the name of the MedlinePlus Twitter feed from @medlineplus4you to @medlineplus.  Tweets will no longer be published to the @medlineplus4you feed, and, instead, will be published to the @medlineplus feed.

Existing subscribers to @medlineplus4you or the RSS feed of the tweets do not need to modify their subscriptions in any way.  They will continue to receive the latest tweets from MedlinePlus.

If you have any questions about this change, please use the Contact Us link that appears at the top of every MedlinePlus page to send the MedlinePlus team a message.

by Terri Ottosen, Consumer Health Coordinator, NNLM, SE/A, tottosen@hshsl.umaryland.edu

If you’re a person with a high degree of interest in electronic medical records or electronic health records, there are a number of resources used to keep up on the trends and news developments in the field. One such resource is a blog titled, “EMR and HIPAA,” which is described as an open forum for EMR, EHR, HIT and HIPAA related information. Postings are frequent and informative. One of the recent postings listed the benefits of implementing an electronic medical record aside from the much-discussed benefits financially, which moving to an electronic record can produce. If you are involved with the process at your institution, this list can help health care providers see that there are many potential additional benefits to moving from a paper-based health record to an electronic one. Here are some that seem particularly striking:

Legibility of Notes – It’s often difficult to decipher handwriting styles Notes are typed so this is unnecessary.
Accessibility of Charts – Indexed and easily searchable by multiple identifiers. No more searching for a lost paper chart.
Transcription Costs Savings – Many users have been able to save on transcription costs by implementing an EMR.
Space Savings – Many people are able to save space where they’d normally be storing shelves and shelves of paper charts.
Eliminate Staff – This almost never happens immediately. Usually this happens through natural turnover of employees and usually occurs with your front desk or medical records staff.
Eligibility for Pay-for-performance – It could take two years or more to implement an EHR and implement a meaningful quality improvement mechanism that would lead to your receiving payments from these programs.
New Physician Recruitment – Many new physicians are looking for practices that use an EHR and will only work for an organization that uses an EHR.
Multiple Users Use a Chart Simultaneously – Most EMR programs support multiple users accessing a chart at the same time. Many even allow multiple people to chart notes at the same time also.
Lab Results Returned Automatically – This depends on a lab interface, but is more reliable and integrated with the care given.
X-Ray Results Returned Automatically – This also depends on a X-ray interface, but has the same possible benefits of a lab interface.
Save a Tree and the Environment – You won’t eliminate use of paper, but you can significantly reduce the amount of paper/charts you use in your practice.
Electronic Prescriptions – Scripts sent electronically or printed out avoid problems of legibility by the pharmacy receiving the script.
Spell check – EMR software includes a spell check and often even includes a medical dictionary.
Disaster Recovery – Depending on your EMR backup schedule, you can store a copy of your data in multiple locations for better disaster recovery. Plus, in an emergency you could carry a backup of your data with you. Think about how you’d carry a room full of charts with you in an emergency.
Drug to Drug Interaction Checking – Most EMR provide a database of Drug to Drug interactions when writing a prescription.
Drug to Allergy Interaction Checking – Most EMR provide a database of Drug to Allergy Interaction checking when writing a prescription.
Patient Safety – Better information access, reduced gaps in communication between providers and reduction in duplicate testing.

To access the blog, please see: http://www.emrandhipaa.com/

This blog is also posted on the SE/A Sea Guide (the NN/LM SE/A LibGuides) on electronic medical records and personal health records, along with a variety of other helpful resources: http://seaguides.hshsl.umaryland.edu/emr