When you consider the number of medical decisions made every day, you’ll start to realise how vitally important information is in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The ability to share and tap into knowledge is a fundamental part of patient care. Healthcare libraries, or health informatics as it’s better known, sources and disperses information. Rapid advances in medicine means that this area must be cutting edge and information up-to-the-minute.
Nurses, doctors, consultants and surgeons rely heavily on knowledge management staff for support in training, education, development and practice. They need access to the latest research and guidelines in their particular fields. You might work within a hospital or primary care trust library services department, for a medical charity or even a specialist medical field, collating information and research about one condition.
Knowledge is widely dispersed and in many formats. As an information assistant, librarian or knowledge manager, you’ll dig around lots of different sources to get your hands on the most relevant and up to date information. This would involve accessing materials through physical or virtual facilities (e.g. books, periodicals and electronic information databases). Meet Pip Divall and Pam Robinson, who can tell you what it’s really like and the biggest rewards.