Access to Health Information: Outreach Efforts to Ronald McDonald House Augusta

Abstract

Objective: The library seeks to improve the use of reliable electronic health information to fill this information need for an under-served population in crisis. In 2014, a new and larger Ronald McDonald House (RMH) opened in Augusta across a shared parking lot of the Robert B, Greenblatt, M.D. Library. Currently, there are no health information resources available in the house. The house staff/volunteers have shared that they have received questions about health information but are advised not to give medical advice.

Methods: A computer designated for accessing health information and a small selection of printed materials has been made available within the RMH. The library is in position to train the RMH house staff/volunteers on consumer health resources and how to evaluate reliable web resources. This will allow them to promote authoritative health resources for families/caregivers of children who are receiving medical treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Georgia. A health information web page has been developed and is accessible through the RMH portal. This web page is also being used as a class outline for hands-on computer training sessions for RMH staff.

Results: The results of the training within the past six months will be presented along with suggested improvements for the staff who are teaching caregivers how to access health information.

Conclusion: Parents will do anything for their child, especially when they are sick. Often they turn to the internet searching for answers. The library recognized the potential to build a positive partnership with the community. Using our expertise to aid this under-served population will assist parents in finding authoritative and up-to-date information health information resources. 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-276-2011-00004-C with the University of Maryland Baltimore.