title: Library and information services: impact on patient care quality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper is to explore library and information service impact on patient care quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  A large-scale critical incident survey of physicians and residents at 56 library sites serving 118 hospitals in the USA and Canada. Respondents were asked to base their answers on a recent incident in which they had used library resources to search for information related to a specific clinical case.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 4,520 respondents, 75 percent said that they definitely or probably handled patient care differently using information obtained through the library. In a multivariate analysis, three summary clinical outcome measures were used as value and impact indicators: first, time saved; second, patient care changes; and third, adverse events avoided. The outcomes were examined in relation to four information access methods: first, asking librarian for assistance; second, performing search in a physical library; third, searching library's web site; or fourth, searching library resources on an institutional intranet. All library access methods had consistently positive relationships with the clinical outcomes, providing evidence that library services have a positive impact on patient care quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electronic collections and services provided by the library and the librarian contribute to patient care quality.
authors.forename: Joanne Gard
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Jennifer Craft
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Cheryl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Amber L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Wells
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007999:Library Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D005791:Patient Care / Q000379:methods*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States