Converting a Small Online Catalog - Improving Service and Satisfaction

Converting the online catalog to a cloud-based system. The library’s software-based catalog experienced technical issues whenever the hospital’s Information Technology department performed updates, and remote access to the system was not available. The authors describe the process of successfully converting the online catalog to a cloud-based system with remote access. It was critical for the library staff to preserve data from the former system. The initial step was to download the statistics from the former system to preserve them for future use. While the library staff weeded both the collection and the online records, they checked to ensure the existing catalog reflected the actual holdings. Patron records older than five years were deleted. Prior to importing the records, the library staff determined which fields, branch locations, and spine label abbreviations to use. Although the new system automatically provided barcodes during cataloging, the library staff chose to keep the existing barcodes from the former system. Circulation polices were established for each book and AV category. The Library staff exported the records to the new vendor and notified the previous vendor of the libraries’ decision to select a new product. Once the catalog and patron records were imported, use of the software-based system was discontinued. Emails were sent to patrons asking them to return circulating books. Outstanding materials were signed out using the cloud-based system. Some of the users commented that the cloud-based interface was easier to use. After the staff shifted to telework due to Covid-19, the catalog remained available remotely. The catalog’s conversion eliminated many of the technical problems encountered with the previous system. Users preferred the catalog’s simplified interface. Remote catalog access has allowed the library staff to continue circulation and catalog services while teleworking during COVID-19

Physicians\u27 use of the personal digital assistant (PDA) in clinical decision making

Purpose: This study examined how frequently attending physicians and physicians in training used personal digital assistants (PDAs) for patient care and explored physicians\u27 perceptions of the impact of PDA use on several areas of clinical decision making. Setting/Subjects: The 108 participants included 59 attending physicians and 49 physicians in training from teaching hospitals in Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. Methodology: Respondents completed a questionnaire designed to explore PDA use in a clinical setting. Results: Eighty-seven percent of the respondents reported PDA use for patient encounters. Fifty-five percent of respondents reported frequent use, and 32% reported occasional use of a PDA for patient care. Of the frequent PDA users, 85% said PDA use had influenced their overall clinical decision making and 73% mentioned treatment alterations specifically. Approximately 60% of the participants reporting occasional PDA use indicated that the PDA had influenced their overall clinical decision making, while 54% specifically mentioned a change to their patient\u27s treatment plan. Discussion/Conclusion: Attending physicians and physicians in training who used a PDA during patient encounters perceived that even occasional PDA use had an impact on their clinical decision making and treatment choices. Health sciences librarians are perfectly positioned to provide PDA training and assistance not only to physicians who are frequent PDA users, but also to those who are occasional users

PsycEXTRA

PsycEXTRA is the American Psychological Association's bibliographic database of grey literature in psychology and the behavioral sciences