Fall 2010 - Eastern Virginia Medical School
Fall 2010 - Eastern Virginia Medical School Fall 2010 - Eastern Virginia Medical School
the vast amounts of information available literally at theirfingertips. Yes, a lot of information is now online, but youhave to know how to navigate it — how to zero in on whatyou need to best take care of yourself or your patients —to get the most out of it. That’s where we come in,” Mrs.Mercer says.The state-of-the-art library has an extensive collection:more than 12,500 books, 7,000 journal subscriptions, 1,500audiovisual items and 150 medical, scientific and generaldatabases. Its resources cover basic and biomedical sciences,clinical medicine and health care. A rare historical collectionalso includes books donated from the personal collectionsof local physicians that date to the American Revolution.While many materials are available online, the libraryremains an important physical space for the EVMScommunity, Mrs. Mercer notes. Students check out reservedmaterials for classes, study, hold small group meetings,attend classes and work in a computer lab that’s open tothem 24 hours a day, seven days a week. EVMS networkaccount holders also can access all databases from offcampus.But the EVMS family is just one regular user of thelibrary. In fact, 48 percent of the questions posed to referencestaff come from outside EVMS, adding up to about 20,000queries a year. Patients and their families in particular —including those admitted to Sentara Norfolk GeneralHospital and Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters(CHKD) — often turn to the library to better understanda new diagnosis or a chronic illness.“Often immediately after a diagnosis, people areoverwhelmed and don’t absorb a lot of what a doctoris telling them,” Ruth Smith, outreach servicescoordinator for the library, explains. “Later, theywill come to us to learn more so that the next timethey talk to their health-care provider, they willhave better questions to ask. We are really empoweringpeople to deal with their illnesses and live the healthiestlives possible.”Ms. Smith’s job is to extend the library’s reach evenfurther into the community. Since 2000, she has trainedmore than 5,000 Hampton Roads residents on how tosearch for accurate and up-to-date medical informationonline. She also educates people about the free consumerhealthlinks posted on the EVMS library’s home pageduring presentations at public libraries, health fairs, schools,senior centers, businesses and other venues. And she guidespublic librarians through EVMS-funded classes that covereverything from medical vocabulary to web navigation,including resources for the area’s many military families.“We will go practically anywhere to give a talk,”M s . S m it hnearly half of the questionsposed to reference staff comefrom outside EVMS, adding up toabout 20,000 queries a year.says. “So manyp e ople a relooking onlinefor medicalinformationand asking usquestions, sowe know theneed is outthere.” Health-care information is the second-most-searchedtopic online in the country, Mrs. Mercer points out — secondonly to financial information.On the EVMS campus, librarians play a vital rolein preparing the doctors of the future. Currently, a majoremphasis is to base treatment decisions on scientificevidence; studies have shown that doctors who don’t followthe latest medical research in their specialties aren’t able to20 FALL 2010 www.evms.eduLIBRARY
offer patients the best possible care, even if they have yearsof experience.Many doctors focus more on conversations with fellowphysicians — “expert opinions” — than on medicalliterature when deciding patient care, says April AdamsPace, education coordinator for the library. Her job is tohelp medical students, residents and physician assistantsincorporate literature into that process — sorting throughquality study databases, interpreting results, knowingcurrent best practices and applying them to patient care.“I think librarians usuallyare ahead of the curve whenit comes to using all theresources we have availableto help people.” — Judith MercerOne popular tool, for example, is DynaMed, a websitethat posts daily updates of new medical studies andrates them based on quality of research methods.“It’s showing users how much they cantrust that evidence,” Mrs. Pace says.EVMS librarians also serve onthe school’s institutional reviewboards, helping researchersgather statistics and followcorrect federal regulations foranimal and human researchtrials. Two mornings aweek, they accompanythird-year medical studentsand residents duringtheir pediatric rounds atCHKD. If they detect anyuncertainty about patientcare, they will searchthe medical literaturefor information that may help guide treatment decisions.They then teach medical students how to locate and usethat kind of data themselves.“We show them the impact of applying literature in aclinical setting,” Mrs. Mercer says. “We have a chance totouch every third-year medical student here and contributeto patient outcomes.”On the state level, library staff work closely withmembers of the Joint Commission on Health Care(JCHC), the group that develops proposed legislation forthe General Assemblye ach ye a r. D ut ie sinclude teaching JCHCstaff members howto use the library’selectronic resourcesand going to Richmondonce a year to lead acourse on accessingall current databases.They also are availableto answer questions,order requested materials and pass along information onparticular topics or issues.“We are their library,” Mrs. Mercer says. “We doeverything we can to support their work.”The same goes for educators at Virginia’s primary andsecondary schools. Through a partnership with the statedepartments of health and education, EVMS createdHealth Smart Virginia, a website that covers healtheducationrequirements under the state’s Standards ofLearning program. The site breaks down informationby health topic and grade, helping teachers plan lessonsfor elementary-, middle- and high-school students. “It’sa fantastic resource for teachers, and really for the entirecommunity and beyond,” Ms. Smith says.In short, adapting to the computer age hasn’t been verydifficult for the library. “I think librarians usually are aheadof the curve when it comes to using all the resources wehave available to help people,” Mrs. Mercer says. “Thetechnology may have changed, but that central missionhasn’t — and it never will.”For more about the library, visit www.evms.edu/magazine.LIBRARYwww.evms.edu FALL 2010 21
- Page 1 and 2: t e a c h i n g . d i s c o v e r i
- Page 3 and 4: EVMSBOARD OF VISITORSfrom the presi
- Page 5 and 6: Researchers support development ofg
- Page 7 and 8: EVMS professoruncovers hidden trend
- Page 10: Partnerships raise moneyfor diabete
- Page 14 and 15: NeuroscientistDavid Scott diesEVMS
- Page 17 and 18: Cancer CenterTeams withMayo Clinicc
- Page 19: A look at theservices the libraryof
- Page 23 and 24: For some people, Eastern Virginia M
- Page 26 and 27: EVMS medical residents- numbering a
- Page 28 and 29: opening the door toMedicalBreakthro
- Page 30 and 31: And they’re getting close.Researc
- Page 32 and 33: 4 TREATING DEADLY VIRUSAFor most in
- Page 34 and 35: alumni1982 Grad HelpsPhysicians Lea
- Page 36 and 37: Medical Alumnireunion2010Then meets
- Page 38 and 39: to your healthAre you aweekendwarri
- Page 40 and 41: Beazley Foundationgives $1 milliont
- Page 42 and 43: In FOCUSPhotos from the EVMS Golf C
- Page 44: L E A RP.O. N I N G Box . D1980I S
the vast amounts of information available literally at theirfingertips. Yes, a lot of information is now online, but youhave to know how to navigate it — how to zero in on whatyou need to best take care of yourself or your patients —to get the most out of it. That’s where we come in,” Mrs.Mercer says.The state-of-the-art library has an extensive collection:more than 12,500 books, 7,000 journal subscriptions, 1,500audiovisual items and 150 medical, scientific and generaldatabases. Its resources cover basic and biomedical sciences,clinical medicine and health care. A rare historical collectionalso includes books donated from the personal collectionsof local physicians that date to the American Revolution.While many materials are available online, the libraryremains an important physical space for the EVMScommunity, Mrs. Mercer notes. Students check out reservedmaterials for classes, study, hold small group meetings,attend classes and work in a computer lab that’s open tothem 24 hours a day, seven days a week. EVMS networkaccount holders also can access all databases from offcampus.But the EVMS family is just one regular user of thelibrary. In fact, 48 percent of the questions posed to referencestaff come from outside EVMS, adding up to about 20,000queries a year. Patients and their families in particular —including those admitted to Sentara Norfolk GeneralHospital and Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters(CHKD) — often turn to the library to better understanda new diagnosis or a chronic illness.“Often immediately after a diagnosis, people areoverwhelmed and don’t absorb a lot of what a doctoris telling them,” Ruth Smith, outreach servicescoordinator for the library, explains. “Later, theywill come to us to learn more so that the next timethey talk to their health-care provider, they willhave better questions to ask. We are really empoweringpeople to deal with their illnesses and live the healthiestlives possible.”Ms. Smith’s job is to extend the library’s reach evenfurther into the community. Since 2000, she has trainedmore than 5,000 Hampton Roads residents on how tosearch for accurate and up-to-date medical informationonline. She also educates people about the free consumerhealthlinks posted on the EVMS library’s home pageduring presentations at public libraries, health fairs, schools,senior centers, businesses and other venues. And she guidespublic librarians through EVMS-funded classes that covereverything from medical vocabulary to web navigation,including resources for the area’s many military families.“We will go practically anywhere to give a talk,”M s . S m it hnearly half of the questionsposed to reference staff comefrom outside EVMS, adding up toabout 20,000 queries a year.says. “So manyp e ople a relooking onlinefor medicalinformationand asking usquestions, sowe know theneed is outthere.” Health-care information is the second-most-searchedtopic online in the country, Mrs. Mercer points out — secondonly to financial information.On the EVMS campus, librarians play a vital rolein preparing the doctors of the future. Currently, a majoremphasis is to base treatment decisions on scientificevidence; studies have shown that doctors who don’t followthe latest medical research in their specialties aren’t able to20 FALL <strong>2010</strong> www.evms.eduLIBRARY
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