Evolution of a Mature Clinical Informationist Model
- Affiliations of the authors: Eskind Biomedical Library, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN (NBG, RNJ); Eskind Biomedical Library, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN (TYK, MC, NAS, AW)
- Correspondence and reprints: Nunzia B. Giuse, MD, MLS, Eskind Biomedical Library, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2209 Garland Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-8340; e-mail: <nunzia.giuse{at}vanderbilt.edu>
- Received 28 October 2004
- Accepted 24 January 2005
Abstract
Achieving evidence-based practice will require new approaches to providing information during health care delivery and to integrating evidence and informatics at the point of care. To support evidence-based practice, Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Eskind Biomedical Library (EBL) introduced the role of clinical informationist, an information specialist with sufficient knowledge and insight to function as a true partner in the health care team. To further disseminate evidence-based knowledge, the Vanderbilt University Medical Center's (VUMC) electronic medical record system and pathway development processes integrate advanced information synthesis capabilities provided by clinical informationists. Combining clinical informationist expertise with informatics tools is an effective strategy for delivering the evidence needed to support patient care decisions.
Footnotes
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Supported in part by funding from the National Library of Medicine (NIH Grant no. 5 R01 LM07849-02).
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The authors thank Dr. Dario Giuse, for editing assistance, Shannon Mueller for her work on the EBM Literature Request Service and guidelines linkages, and Garad Megan Davis and Marcia Epelbaum for their contributions to the Pathways project.
