Using Unique Abilities to Capitalize on a Failed Clinical Informationist Project

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the reasons why a pilot clinical informationist program ended and how the library capitalized upon what worked to build even stronger relationships with clinicians, educators, and administrators. Setting/Participants: A clinical informationist provided information consultation on rounds with Internal Medicine attending physicians and residents in a community hospital setting for about one year before this aspect of the project was cancelled in 2008. Brief Description: The demise of this librarian-in place pilot project was caused by economics, politics, planning and communications breakdowns, and new challenges in the library environment. Issues and lessons learned will be discussed frankly, as will the unexpected benefits of the failed project. Outcome: As a result of contacts initiated during this project, relationships with faculty, staff and leadership in multiple departments and institutions have flourished, educational elements of the pilot continue, and the library is reaching more students, residents, and clinicians than would have been possible using the single clinical informationist model. Conclusions: The visibility and relationships that are built when attempting a clinical informationist pilot can be invaluable for later projects, even if the librarian-in-place role is not a sustainable model.