ABSTRACT
The use of rural sites to train badly needed primary care providers requires access to sophisticated medical information not traditionally available outside of academic health centers. Medical reference librarians can play a key role in the development of primary care training sites in rural settings. Electronic information technologies, with proactive support from medical reference librarians, can provide current and detailed information without concern for distance from the health science center library. This paper discusses recent developments in technology, describes current challenges to the application of this technology in rural settings, and provides policy recommendations for medical reference librarians to enhance rural primary care training.
Subject(s)
Health Personnel/education , Libraries, Medical/organization & administration , Primary Health Care , Rural Health , Area Health Education Centers , Computer Communication Networks , Information Systems , Librarians , Role , United States , WorkforceABSTRACT
Recently developed and emerging information and communications technologies offer the potential to move the clinical training of physicians and other health professionals away from the resource intensive urban academic health center, with its emphasis on tertiary care, and into rural settings that may be better able to place emphasis on the production of badly needed primary care providers. These same technologies also offer myriad opportunities to enhance the continuing education of health professionals in rural settings. This article explores the effect of new technologies for rural tele-education by briefly reviewing the effect of technology on health professionals' education, describing ongoing applications of tele-education, and discussing the likely effect of new technological developments on the future of tele-education. Tele-education has tremendous potential for improving the health care of rural Americans, and policy-makers must direct resources to its priority development in rural communities.
Subject(s)
Computer Communication Networks/trends , Computer-Assisted Instruction , Education, Medical, Continuing/organization & administration , Information Services/trends , Rural Health , CD-ROM , Education, Medical, Continuing/methods , Education, Medical, Continuing/trends , Grateful Med , MEDLINE , Telemedicine , United StatesABSTRACT
The Florida Health Information Network (FHIN) was established in October 1989 to provide biomedical information services to the University of Florida Health Science Center (HSC) and to health professionals throughout the state--especially the northern thirty-nine counties of the state. FHIN services are available to all affiliates of the HSC and by annual subscription to nonaffiliates. At present, FHIN services include database access, circulation services, document delivery, and information services. Training network users has been an objective since the inception. Training has targeted both the HSC Library staff and HSC users and now is expanding to include remote users. Because many users have had insufficient experience with computers, the library has to teach the mechanics of access and network use and to instruct users regarding applications and database searching. This paper describes the development and implementation of the medical informatics education program. Topics include library staff training; educational offerings for HSC faculty, staff, and students; development and implementation of the remote training program; and organizational and budgetary implications for the construction of such a program.
