Peter Cole, library director at St. Michael’s Medical Center, and three other members of the SMMC Evidence-Based Practice Committee presented their poster “Nurse Navigator: Impacting Life and Death” at the 15^th National Evidence Based Practice Conference on April 25^th in Coralville, IA.  Their poster aimed to raise awareness – not only of the nurse navigator program at St. Michael’s Connie Dwyer Breast Center, but of the profound impact the role plays in patient care.  Nurse educators Roxana Gonzalez, RN, CCRN, and Kathryn Kozub, RN, along with Breast Center and Blood Research Institute director Terri Pietsch, MSN, RN, CTR, co-authored the abstract with the vision of expanding the nurse navigator’s role at SMMC.  Currently, the nurse navigator, after consulting with the breast center’s interdisciplinary team, meets with newly diagnosed cancer patients without insurance or the means to strategize and develop of plan of care. From there, the journey of the navigator and the patient continues; throughout the course of treatment, the navigator provides guidance and a “nurses touch” to ensure understanding, compliance, quality care, improved outcomes, long term follow-up, and patient satisfaction (the navigator sees to it that all underinsured breast cancer patients receive diagnostic testing, procedures, and care of the highest quality through local and national funding). The team believes the role could be expanded to Oncology Nurse Navigator, and utilize the nurse as a mentor to assist in establishing competencies for other nurse navigators.  The team also believes that the Interdisciplinary Oncology team could implement a Literature Attached to Chart (LATCH) program, which would include mandate each patient’s chart contains results from a literature search performed by the librarian, specifically tailored to each patient. In addition, a pathfinder of consumer health resources would be inserted into the patient’s file, along with information on local, state, and national support programs that are available to the individual.

The amount of support the conference displayed for health information professionals was overwhelming: librarians were referred to as “information sources;” there were calls for “unit-based informationists;” and several presenters acknowledged the importance of medical librarians to their research.  The conference’s theme was “Reflections on the past, directions for the future: Implications for research and clinical practice.” With sessions entitled “Evolution in Resources: a clinician’s perspective” and “Advanced Search Strategies for Finding a Cost Benefit for EBP Projects,” it was made abundantly clear that information professionals – and the services they provide – are essential to the annals, present, and future of evidence-based practice.

Peter received a National Network of Libraries of Medicine – Middle Atlantic Region Small Projects Award grant to assist with travel expenses to the conference

Because of the upcoming Labor Day weekend, the deadline to submit your application for a MAR Health Literacy Award (new or existing project) has been extended to September 2.

Information on the awards, as well as online application forms, are available here:

http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/

This is a reminder that applications are due by Friday, August 1, 2008 for three MAR Awards:

EFTS Awards: http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/efts.html

Planning Awards: http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/planning.html

Technology Awareness Conference Award: http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/techawareness.html

We have heard from many libraries about rejecting requests from non-EFTS libraries. While we understand EFTS libraries’ desire to avoid paper invoices, we also understand non-EFTS libraries limits in participating in the program.

For all libraries that consider it acceptable to not fill for non-EFTS libraries, we urge you to consider the long-term implications and the potential exclusion this will impose on a large segment of the DOCLINE community. More importantly, if you elect to practice this method of rejection, please use some professional discretion:

• Urgent Patient Care requests require immediate service and all participating libraries should do their best to complete these request promptly for EFTS and non-EFTS requestors alike.
  
• Requests that have routed beyond the normal routing table (Refer to Resource Libraries, Refer on After NLM) have exhausted normal options for borrowing and need to be completed.
  
• Free reciprocal requests which would not require invoicing should not be rejected for non-EFTS libraries. Participation in a library group requires completion of requests per the terms of the group. Any library that is a member of FreeShare or BHSL *must* honor another FreeShare/BHSL library’s requests per group agreements. Even if the requesting library is not EFTS, that has no bearing on whether or not that library is FreeShare/BHSL.

DOCLINE requires that libraries provide reciprocal service and the rejection of an entire category of libraries from resource sharing seriously jeopardizes the continued success of DOCLINE.

MAR has explored non-EFTS libraries’ reasons for not participating in the program and we have found that these libraries are excluded not by choice, but by circumstance—hospital administrators and accounting departments that restrict the placement of money on deposit.

If you encounter a non-EFTS library, take a moment to encourage their membership in the program or refer them to their RML to help them join EFTS.

For non-EFTS libraries, MAR has recently launched a new EFTS award which provides up to $200 in starter funds. These funds can ensure that when and if you ever need to borrow for cost, the money will be there. It also marks your library as an EFTS participant. Please consider applying for this award (http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/efts.html). Deadline for applications is August 1, 2008.

If you have questions, please contact the RML (rml@library.med.nyu.edu or 1-800-338-7657).

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region is pleased to announce the recipients of our initial round of Technology Innovation Awards!

The recipients are:

• Touro-Harlem Medical Library - Shelly Warwick - Building instructional capacity.
• Columbia University Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library - Flash screen network.
• University of Rochester Medical Center - Donna R. Berryman - CLIC-on-Health online outreach to refugees.
• St. Francis Medical Library - Rosemary Figorito - Projecto Salud - outreach and training to hispanic communities.
• John F. Kennedy Medical Center Medical Library - Lena Feld - Software Upgrade Promotes Enhanced Research (SUPER)

Congratulations to all the award recipients!

All MAR network members should keep an eye out for our next call for applications for Technology Innovation Awards in late summer or early fall!

The National Networkof Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region is pleased to announce the recipients of our latest round of Technology Improvement Awards!

The recipients are:

• St. Barnabas Medical Center - Patricia Reusing - Acquiring and using Softlink to automate and streamline library processes.
• Geisinger Health System - Patricia Ulmer - Equipping the library with an assistive technology workstation.
• New York State Nurses Association Library - Warren Hawkes - Replacing their 10 year old hardwired network with a secure free-standing wireless independent network.
• Mercy Hospital - Grace DiVirgilio - Upgrading of library computers to to along with the library’s move to a new, higher traffic locale.
• St. Elizabeth Medical Center Library - Halyna Liszczynskyj - Upgrading of library computers and software.
• Albany Medical College - Enid Geyer - Using Lenovo Tablet PCs for developing support skills and remote reference.
• Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center - Susan Cleveland - Computer kiosks to provide consumer health information to patients, family members and visitors.
• Western Pennsylvania Hospital Forbes Regional Campus - Heidi Patterson - Upgrading library computers.
• Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health - Susanne Ingle - Upgraded computers and scanners for improved document delivery and reference services.
• Lourdes Medical Center - Beth Murtaugh - 24/7 access computer workstations.
• Western Pennsylvania Hospital - Heidi Patterson - Patient and Family Education Center computers.
• Matheny Medical Center - Jungwon DeVone - Computer and scanner upgrades for improved document delivery and patron computer access.
• Coney Island Hospital - Laraine Tursi - Upgrading of library computers, printers and faxes for improved document delivery, patron access and staff workflow.

Congratulations to all the award recipients!

All MAR network members keep an eye out for our next call for applications of Technology Improvment Award in late summer or early fall!  Next time it could be you!

The NN/LM Middle Atlantic Region (MAR), as part of its efforts to improve resource sharing throughout the region, is now accepting applications from MAR Full DOCLINE Network members for the newly-created EFTS awards.

The purpose of the EFTS award is to promote participation in EFTS among Full DOCLINE members and to improve the ease and cost-effectiveness of resource sharing throughout the region. The EFTS award creates opportunities for non-EFTS libraries to receive initial funding to join the program and for current EFTS members to receive funding to continue their resource sharing efforts.

Non-EFTS libraries may request up to $200 in starter funds. Current EFTS members may request up to $500 in continuing funds. All funds will be distributed directly from NN/LM MAR and deposited to EFTS in the name of the applicant. Deadline for application is August 1, 2008.

For additional information, including online application forms, see http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/ and select EFTS award.

Questions? Call 1-800-338-7657 or e-mail rml@library.med.nyu.edu.

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region (NN/LM MAR) is pleased to announce the awarding of three Small Project Awards and an Exhibit Award to:

PJ Grier; Linda Leonard
Delaware Academy of Medicine, Newark, DE
Exhibit: Delaware State Fair - Healthy Kids Day at the Fair (July 22, 2008)

PJ Grier, Linda Leonard, Patty Hartmannsgruber, Susan LaValley
Delaware Academy of Medicine, Consumer Health Information Services (3 awards for each county: Kent County, New Castle County, Sussex County)
Project: exhibiting at Delaware Library Association Annual meeting (May 9, 2008)

Congratulations!

The Small Project Awards are small awards of up to $1,000 awarded to network members to enhance their services and provide seed money for ongoing or one-time projects through the purchase of displays, brochures, presentations, materials, equipment, supplies, or presentation of small programs.

Small Project Awards are currently available and will be awarded until funds are depleted. Small Project Award applications are reviewed in-house by RML staff, with notification of award given 10 days from receipt of a complete application.

Apply online at: http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/microawards.html Questions?

Call or email Arpita Bose at 1.800.338.7657 or bose at library.med.nyu.edu

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region (NN/LM MAR) is pleased to announce the awarding of MicroAwards to the following network members:

Shelly Warwick
Touro-Harlem Medical Library, New York, NY
Project: Library Branding Design Project

Nancy Glassman
D. Samuel Gottesman Library, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Project: Let Me Show You How It’s Done (Glance subscription)

Peter Cole
St. Michael’s Medical Center - Aquinas Medical Library, Newark, NJ
Project: National Evidence-Based Practice Conference (presentation)

The Small Project Awards are small awards of up to $1,000 awarded to network members to enhance their services and provide seed money for ongoing or one-time projects through the purchase of displays, brochures, presentations, materials, equipment, supplies, or presentation of small programs.

Small Project Awards are currently available and will be awarded until funds are depleted. Small Project Award applications are reviewed in-house by RML staff, with notification of award given 10 days from receipt of a complete application.

Apply online at: http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/microawards.html Questions?
Call or email Arpita Bose at 1.800.338.7657 or bose at library.med.nyu.edu

The NN/LM Middle Atlantic Region (MAR), as part of its outreach and library improvement programs and its Strategic Program Plan for Network Members, is accepting applications from MAR full and affiliate network members to plan or determine the feasibility for future library improvement and outreach projects. Library improvement includes strengthening the technological capabilities of libraries to respond to changes in the health information environment and to users’ needs, the ability of libraries to share resources, share and build on best practices, identify emerging opportunities and threats to libraries and develop a plan to address them. Outreach includes reaching out to communities that a library does not usually serve, or expand services to communities that are underserved and offering training, document delivery partnerships, collaborative programming and reference and research support.

Planning is the foundation for success of any project. Three awards at $15,000 each are available.

Deadline for submission of applications: August 1, 2008

Examples of potential planning award projects are:

• Developing, expanding or promoting consortia that provide improved access to biomedical literature or provide improved library services
• Developing models of e-licensing and e-serials management that can be used by small to medium-sized hospital libraries
• Developing a region-wide leadership institute and mentoring program
• Hosting a series of planning meetings with potential outreach partners.
• Conducting a state-wide library disaster/emergency preparedness planning meeting.
• Holding meetings to identify historical medical collections in the region for inclusion in NLM’s Directory of History of Medicine collections.

Other planning projects or ideas are welcome.

Eligibility

• Full or affiliate MAR members in Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
• Partnerships between MAR members and community, health, senior and diversity organization are strongly encouraged.

For more information, including cost proposal instructions and online application form go to: http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/planning.html

If you have questions or require assistance contact Kathel Dunn, Associate Director, at 1-800-338-7657, 212-263-4197, or rml@library.med.nyu.edu . Awards will be announced on the MAR discussion list, MARL as well as the MAR newsletter, the MARquee.