Keeping tabs on health care innovation: Our Health Sciences Library

Whether help is needed surrounding a patient care scenario or new research has been published relevant to an internal program, Osler’s Health Sciences Library team is on it.

The small but mighty team holds the key to countless online databases and resources, and have the expertise required to help our staff and physicians find the information they need, when they need it. We spoke with Janice Thompson, Team Lead, Health Sciences Library, to learn more about the unique role of the library in hospitals.

How would you describe your role?

My team ensures Osler’s health care teams have the information they need to practice evidence-based patient care. Staff members can reach out to us at any time for articles, literature reviews, and more to gather information that will help them in their practice.

We also help them stay updated on the most current research and ensure they are getting what they need from the resources we find and share. We’re sure to keep them updated and send articles or reports on topics they’re interested in.

Who typically reaches out for support?

We welcome staff from across the organization to reach out with open arms! We work with a lot of physicians, particularly specialists, to keep themselves updated on the latest literature within their specialty. Nurses are another large group, especially nurse educators and nurses doing post-graduate studies. We also work with a lot of professional practice leaders to assist them in keeping their clinician groups well-informed.
While those are the main groups, we also work with several members of our executive leadership team, researching new models of care, quality and patient safety improvement initiatives. We’re always eager to assist in finding new research that will help contribute to innovations within our health system.

Any exciting projects you are currently assisting with?

There are lots! I’m currently assisting the Research team to determine how we can measure and demonstrate the impact of publications written by Osler clinicians.

This is an exciting time at Osler as our Research Program continues to grow into a research institute that will generate meaningful local and global impact in patient care. My team is very excited to see how we can have an impact as the program develops.

In your own words, why are hospital libraries like ours so important?

Many people believe that with the internet, every piece of information we need is available for free. This simply isn’t true! Most peer-reviewed, evidence-based research and information sits behind paywalls, which we can help reach through the great number of databases, journals and wide network of libraries we have access to.

While having that access is important to Osler's health care teams, having the skills to know how to find what they're looking for is crucial. My team is incredibly well-trained in this. We have the skills needed to search databases and resources – each with their own syntax and structure - to find their information. People may not necessarily understand how involved that process can be.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

There are two parts: searching the literature to answer a clinician’s question, and teaching clinicians how they can search the literature even if it is to only point out a few tips that may help them search more effectively.

Some particularly rewarding experiences were when I’ve provided the literature to support implementing enhanced recovery after surgery and supporting the establishment of our psychiatric intensive care unit.