Dive Into Morning Report with Information Resources Training: the Library Minute

Abstract

Purpose: To describe and demonstrate how a one to three minute information resources Library Minute presentation inserted between Morning Report cases is used to educate busy physicians about information resources and searching. Setting/Participants: The clinical informationist presents several times per week at a county hospital Morning Report attended by approximately 50 residents, medical students and attending physicians. Brief Description: Medical residents are notoriously short of time to attend information resources classes, but most will attend Morning Report to hear about interesting cases. There is generally time between the two cases for announcements, discussion of an interesting article, or since Fall 2007, a Library Minute. PubMed Limits, MeSH, clinicaltrials.gov and the NCI Cancer Database have all been topics of these PowerPoint presentations. Focus is on features important to clinicians, why the resource is useful, and when they would use it. Outcome: Residents, the intended primary audience, have given positive feedback. Attending physicians have expressed their appreciation at being taught “something new”. Follow-up questions and suggestions have spawned more Minutes and requests for individual and small group training. Conclusions: Librarians are looking for creative ways to deliver services close to the point of need. One approach is to present a Library Minute to an already-gathered Morning Report group. Dive in, teach ‘em something cool, and land nearby to reap the rewards.