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Enhancing Access to Mental Health Informationin Northeastern Pennsylvania

NN/LM MAR Outreach to Consumers Award

Presented by: Joanne Muellenbach, MA, D-AHIP, Library Director, The Commonwealth Medical College, Scranton, PA

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TCMC

• Founding Library Director at TCMC• TCMC covers 16 counties, with regional campuses

in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport• Mental illness – identified as one of the top 10

health issues in our region

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Announcement of NN/LM MAR Funding

• Met with Lackawanna County Library System librarians• Identified a need for public library training on how to

deal with patrons with mental health issues• This project would align with the Pennsylvania Library

Association initiative “PA Forward – Pennsylvania Libraries”

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Major Accomplishments

• Two mental health workshops• 60 participants, from public, academic and school

libraries• Information literacy “train-the-trainer” session• Exhibit at TCMC Keystone Symposium on mental health

NEPA Mental Health Information LibGuide

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NEPA Mental Health Information LibGuidehttp://tcmedc.libguides.com/content.php?pid=469872.

Addiction and Substance AbuseCaregiversChildrenMedicine

Hispanic / LatinoLGBT

Military / VeteransNEPA Area Resources

SeniorsSpecific Diseases and Conditions

Teens / Youth

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Mental Health Titles

• 52 books and DVDs purchased• Available to TCMC affiliates and to registered

members of the Lackawanna County Library System

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Evaluation Methods and ResultsOur Goals:• To develop a better-trained group of librarians and

public service professionals• To increase awareness of mental health information,

services and resources• Pre-test & Post-test questionnaires

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Pre-Test / Post-Test Questionnaire Analysis

There were statistically significant results for the following topic areas:

• Health needs of the NEPA region• TCMC Library’s consumer health titles, available through the online catalog

of LCLS• Library and mental health databases and websites• NN/LM MAR Outreach to Consumers Award• How to judge quality websites; and• Benefits of NN/LM MAR membership

• Psychiatry residency program• Clinical models for integrating mental and behavioral health with

primary care• Expansion of training programs for other mental health providers• Telepsychiatry• Suicide prevention program

TCMC Mental Health Initiative:Next Steps

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• $15,000 year-long funding to enhance access to mental health resources for health professionals in NEPA. Presentations and exhibits at:• VCF Regional Campus meetings in October• Lackawanna County Senior Health Fair on 9/26• Student Affairs event on 10/2• TCMC Grand Rounds on 10/9• Steamtown Health Fair @ TCMC on 10/11• PMC Faculty Orientation on 10/20• Alzheimer’s Regional Conference on 11/11

Medical Library’s NN/LM MAR Outreach to Health Professionals Award

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Closing Thoughts

• The Award strengthened our relationship with the LCLS librarians; we hope to collaborate with them again

• NEPA Mental Health Information LibGuide continues to be updated, and “hits” are steadily increasing

• Mental health titles – circulation is steadily increasing

• Author of article: Enhanced Access to Mental Health Information – A Multi-Type Library Collaboration , published in the Fall 2014 issue of the Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet

• Overall, the NN/LM MAR Award has been a wonderful experience!

Acknowledgements

• Erin Dunleavy, Assistant Director of Assessment, TCMC• Karen Baker, Director, Office of Sponsored Programs, TCMC• My co-investigators: Mary Garm, Bridget Conlogue, Susan Jeffery

and Martina Soden• The wonderful NN/LM MAR staff!

This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. HHS-N-276-2011-00003-C with the University of Pittsburgh, Health Sciences Library System. 13

Partnerships for Health Information and Mentoring Health Careers for a High School and

Middle School Population

Presented by:Debra Rand, MS, AHIP, Associate Dean for Library Services

Saori Wendy Herman, MLIS, AHIP, Education and Liaison LibrarianHofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine

This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. HHS-N-276-2011-00003-C with the University of Pittsburgh, Health Sciences Library System.

Award period: May 2013-April 2014

Objectives

To facilitate improved health literacy, the understanding of where to locate reliable health and health careers information, and the benefits of collaborating among health sciences librarians, medical students, and a local school district.

Methods

A series of collaborative activities were held throughout the 2013/2014 school year including:

Health Education Fair with a pre- and post-survey LibGuide on health resources was created to be

placed on the high school library website. Workshops led by the health sciences library staff

for the school nurses, librarians, and health educators

A post-survey was distributed to the attendees Case-based learning session for Health Careers

students Visits to the health system

Results

Increased awareness of online health resources LibGuide placed on high school library website School librarians have utilized MedlinePlus and other recommended resources in

subsequent research projects Informal feedback from the Health Education Fair attendees, workshop

participants, and medical school students indicated a positive and valuable learning experience

The post-survey data for the Health Education Fair and the workshops were inconclusive due to the minimal response rate and lower than anticipated attendance at the fair

Librarians published article in Hofstra University’s publication, Hofstra Horizons Poster presented at MLA ’14

The collaborative model for the Health Education Fair may be replicated at other local school districts

Select the date and time for activities taking into account potential conflict by all participants as well as the challenge of working with medical student schedules

Expand marketing activities throughout the local community Design alternative options for increasing evaluation response rates

Lessons Learned

Contact Information

Debra Rand, MS, AHIP

Associate Dean for Library Services

debra.rand@hofstra.edu

Saori Wendy Herman, MLIS, AHIP

Education and Liaison Librarian

wendy.herman@hofstra.edu

Supporting the Information Needs of Clarkson’s Health Sciences Programs Through Improved Technology

Project Report

Regan DeFranza, MLS Health Sciences Librarian

This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. HHS-N-276-2011-00003-C with the

University of Pittsburgh, Health Sciences Library System.

Clarkson University LibrariesHealth Sciences Library

History

• The library was established in 2001

• Originally served the PT students and faculty

• There was no librarian until 2009

• The PA program was accredited in 2013

Journal room in old library

New role for the library

The Library was charged with providing reference and instruction to the students in the expanded allied health programs

Library Intensive ProgramsEvidence-Based Medicine

Physical Therapy

Physician Assistant

Occupational Therapy

Challenges

Library collection needed weeding and updating

Library policies needed to be developed

Services of the library needed to be marketed

Most of all computer workstation needed to be updated

Students working on one of few operating computer stations

This grant project provided

• Eight new computer workstations in the library,

replacing an outdated computer lab

• A mobile workstation (laptop computer and

projector) for teaching in multiple venues

• An interactive smart board to enhance student

engagement.

Roadblocks?

Positive Outcomes

Library PromotionCampus-wide Wellness Fair

Arts and Sciences Open House

University Libraries Expo

The library is a key player…

Thank You