Health Resources

Introduction

Health Enhancements to the Reference Interview

The public today is probably better informed about medicine than at any other time in history. We are entering a new age – that of managed care, HMO’s, and PPO’s. We no longer know our physician. Patients occasionally complain that information they receive from physicians or other health care professionals is inadequate. Instead of asking for additional information or a second opinion, they visit a library.

As with all subjects, but especially with health, it is the information specialist’s job to provide the customer with concise, accurate, and understandable information about his/her well being.

As you navigate through the reference interview, the following tips should help you:

  1. If possible, move to a quiet area where the customer will be more comfortable talking with you.
  2. Always be non-judgmental about the subject matter. Never, never ask “why do you need this information?” If you really think this is a student you might ask them if it is for a research paper.
  3. Be sensitive to the customer. This may be a question of a very personal nature. Just coming to the desk and asking the question may have been very difficult.

There are several things you should be aware of when giving the customer health information:

  1. Currency of materials. Always check copyright dates – medical information dates rapidly. Use periodicals to lead the customer to the most current information. Give name and date of publication when citing a source.
  2. Health information is often contradictory. It’s always good to give a customer information from several sources. Inform him/her that we have materials with differing viewpoints. The customer must consider these viewpoints to make an informed decision. It is the customer who will have to decide which information to accept.
  3. No interpretation or advice should be given by the information specialist. If the patron needs an interpretation of the information provided, encourage him/her to take the information to a physician or other health professional.
  4. Quote verbatim. Do not paraphrase information. All information should be read as printed. Give minimal information over the telephone. It is better to send the patron information than to read it over the phone, to avoid misunderstandings.

If you feel you have not completely answered the question, a referral to a professional organization or to the Wheaton Health Information Center is appropriate.

Learning Goals

This module will acquaint you with the vast array of Health resources in your branch and the Health Information Center of the Montgomery County Department of Public Libraries. Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:

  1. Enhance the reference interview so that it is appropriate to the sensitive nature of the inquiry
  2. Describe the organization, features and usefulness of both print and electronic health resources
  3. Identify and suggest the kinds of questions the resource/s can answer
  4. Utilize the appropriate resource/s to find information that answers the customer’s question/s.

Task

Examine the resources (books, databases, web sites, etc.) for this module. The resources may include print, electronic, audio, video and expert human resources. Also, consider and include resources for a variety of ages - adult, young adult, children - and needs. Enter a minimum of 3 resources for this subject using the Subject Resource form.

Process

Examine the print and electronic resources from the LATI Medicine - Book Sources and LATI Consumer Health Web Sites bibliographies. You may also want to view the following: Evaluating Web Resources and a supplemental bibliography. For the print resources, choose those titles available to you in your branch. NOTE: The LATI Bibliography provides alternative sources, in case a title is not included in your home branch location. (How many titles from the above list are in your branch?) As you look at these resources, consider their candidacy for your "Core Basic Reference Collection."

  1. Review the strategies (those you identified in the Finding Information module) for examining a resource/reference tool. Add to the list any additional strategies you’ve identified.
  2. Choose resources that are "at your fingertips" - accessible to you.
  3. Examine the resources using the strategies for examining a resource. Conduct an "on-the-fly" exam of the resources and then complete a second, more in-depth review. As you look the resource, consider its candidacy for your core collection.
  4. Complete an electronic Subject Resource Form for each resource you identify and examine. Include a practice question /answer and be sure to cite the page number or specify the exact URL (copy/paste the URL on the form).
  5. Do the LATI Class Questions exercise, completing a minimum of 10 practice questions.
  6. Reflect on your learning. Share/discuss with your supervisor and post your thoughts and insights in your electronic journal. Consider:
    1. How have these modules assisted you in answering customers' questions;
    2. New strategies for finding information/examining materials you have developed;
    3. Your thoughts about your knowledge base of materials?
    4. Your ability to find the answers.

Questions

Contact us if you have any questions and need anything clarified. The purpose of these modules is to start you on the path of developing your knowledge base of your library’s collection and other resources you can use to answer customer’s questions. Enjoy the journey!

Email: coordinator@latimd.org

LATI Medicine - Book Sources

Compiled by Sandy Negro and Carolyn McCracken
Health Information Center
Montgomery County Department of Public Libraries

1. Alternative medicine: the definitive guide. Compiled by the Burton Goldberg Group. Future Medicine Pub., 1994.
OR

The Medical advisor: the complete guide to alternative & conventional treatments. By the editors of Time-Life Books. 2nd ed. Time-Life Books, 2000.
  
2. The Cambridge world history of human disease. Edited by Kenneth F. Kiple, et al. Cambridge University Press, 1993.
  
3. Complete drug reference. Micromedex, Inc. and US Pharmacopeia. 2001 ed. Consumer Reports Books, 2001.
AND
Physicians’ desk reference: PDR: 2002. 56th ed. Medical Economics Company, 2002.
  
4. Current medical diagnosis & treatment: 2002. Edited by Lawrence M. Tierney, Jr., et al. 41st ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill, 2002.
  
5. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed., text revision. American Psychiatric Association, 2000.
  
6. Gray’s anatomy: the anatomical basis of medicine and surgery. 38th ed. Churchill Livingstone, 1995.
OR
The human body: an illustrated guide to its structure, function, and disorders. Edited by Charles B. Clayman. Dorling Kindersley Pub., 1995.
OR
The Johns Hopkins atlas of human functional anatomy. By Leon Schlossberg; text edited by George D. Zuidema. 4th ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997.
  
7. Informed decisions: the complete book of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Edited by Harmon Eyre, et. al. American Cancer Society, 2002.
  
8. Johns Hopkins family health book. Edited by Michael J. Klag, et al. HarperCollins Publishers, 1999.
OR
Harvard Medical School family health guide. Edited by Anthony L. Komaroff. Simon & Schuster, 1999.
OR
American College of Physicians complete home medical guide. Edited by David R. Goldmann, et al. DK Publications, 1999.
  
9. Merck manual of diagnosis and therapy. Edited by Mark H. Beers and Robert Berkow, et al. 17th ed. Merck Research Laboratories, 1999.
  
10. Mayo Clinic heart book. Edited by Bernard J. Gersh. 2nd ed. William Morrow and Company, 2000.
  
11. The Official ABMS directory of board certified medical specialists: 2002. 34th ed. Elserier Science, 2001
  
12. Professional guide to diseases. 7th ed. Springhouse Division, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2001.
  
13. Stedman’s medical dictionary. 27th ed. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2000.
OR
Any medical dictionary at your library (Black’s Medical Dictionary; Mosby’s Medical, Nursing, and Allied Health Dictionary; Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary; etc.)

LATI Medicine - Consumer Health Web Sites

Compiled by Sandy Negro and Carolyn McCracken
Health Information Center
Montgomery County Department of Public Libraries

General Health
1. Wheaton Regional Library - Health Information Center
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Content/Libraries
Click: Collections and Services-->Health Information Center
  
  • Health Information Center homepage where you can find links to most of the websites listed below.
2. Healthfinder
http://www.healthfinder.gov/default.asp

  
  • This U.S. government site provides a gateway to consumer health information from federal, state, and local governments, universities, and not-for-profit organizations. Searchable.
3. MedlinePlus
medlineplus.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus
  
  • The National Library of Medicine's new consumer health page provides links to reputable websites on specific diseases and to prepared literature searches from the Medline journals database. Also featured are links to medical dictionaries, physician and hospital directories, clearinghouses, and non-profit organizations that offer information to consumers.
4. NOAH: New York Online Access to Health
www.noah-health.org
  
  • A bilingual English/Spanish site which can be searched by concept and/or keyword.
5. AMA Health Information
www.nih.gov/health
  
  • Medical information for the public by the nation’s leading medical society.
6. American Academy of Family Physicians – Information for Patients
familydoctor.org
  
  • Patient fact sheets, brochures, and self-care flowcharts provide basic, easy-to-understand information on over 200 health topics. Search or browse by population group or body systems.
7. Yahoo! Health
www.yahoo.com/Health
  
  • Use for hard to find information about diseases and conditions.
Diseases
1. CancerNet
www.cancer.gov/cancer_information
  
  • Your gateway to the most recent and accurate cancer information from the National Cancer Institute.
2. ClinicalTrials.gov
clinicaltrials.gov
  
  • Website from the National Institutes of Health “to provide patients, family members and members of the public current information about clinical research studies.” Browse by condition or trial sponsor, or use the search form to find trials. Search options include disease, treatment, trial phase, and geographic location.
Health Care
1. AMA Physician Select
www.ama-assn.org/aps/amahg.htm
  
  • Sponsored by the American Medical Association, this site, searchable by name or medical specialty, provides information on most MDs and DOs in the United States.
2. American Board of Medical Specialists
www.abms.org
  
  • In addition to information on ABMS and its member boards, which certify physicians nationwide, this site can be searched by doctor's name to verify credentials, or by specialty and zip code for a list of certified doctors in an area.
3. Medicare
www.medicare.gov
  
  • Includes Medicare nursing home comparison databases and lists of helpful contacts.
Prescription Drugs
Doctor's Guide (New Drugs)
www.pslgroup.com/NEWDRUGS.HTM
  
  • Searchable database of current news stories about drugs and new indications.
Senior Health
AARP
www.aarp.org
  
  • The official page of the American Association of Retired Persons. Features information about AARP and serves as a clearinghouse of information and resources of interest to senirn citizens. AARP's position on subjects such as advance directives for home care, elder abuse, health care reform, mandatory retirement, can be found here. Searchable.
Journal Databases
1. Sailor - Health Reference Center
www.sailor.lib.md.us
  
  • Click on EBSCOHost-->Health Databases-->Health: Consumer Edition
OR
2. If your system subscribes to InfoTrac, access the Health Reference Center's index to medical journals and information.

LATI Medicine - Supplemental Bibliography

These are some other titles that would be useful when answering consumer health questions. Add them to your reference collection if possible.
  
1. The Children's Hospital guide to your child's health and development. Children's Hospital, Boston, 2001
  
2. The American Pharmaceutical Association practical guide to natural medicines. By Andrea Peirce. William Morrow, 1999.
  
3. The Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery’s guide to family dental care. Rebecca W. Smith. W.W. Norton & Company, 1997.
  
4. The Crystal clear guide to sight for life. Johnny L. Gayton and Jan Roadarmel Ledford. Starburst Publishers, 1996.
  
5. Dr. Susan Love’s breast book. Susan M. Love, with Karen Lindsey. 3rd ed., fully rev. Persues Publishing, 2000
  
6. The Gale encyclopedia of medicine. Edited by Donna Olendorf, Christine Jeryan, and Karen Boyden. 5 vol. Gale Research, 1999. (This is also on Health Reference Center)
  
7. The National Women’s Health Resource Center book of women’s health: your comprehensive guide to health and well-being. Edited by Anthony R. Scialli. William Morrow and Company, 1999.
  
8. The Merck manual of geriatrics. Edited by Mark H. Beers and Robert Berkow. 3rd ed. Merck Research Laboratoaries, 2000.
  
9. The Surgery book: an illustrated guide to 73 of the most common operations. Robert Youngson. St. Martin’s Griffin, 1997.
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