Clinically tested - free range: Establishing a clinical librarian role at a major teaching hospital

Abstract

Every moment of clinical care prompts questions about diagnosis, causality, treatment plans or medication, to name a few. From supplying immediate evidence at the bedside in the intensive care unit, through to searches that support workplace reform, major purchasing decisions for hospital equipment or clinical safety and risk projects - the 'free range' clinical librarian has a crucial role to 'build and walk' the bridge between the evidence to be found in health literature and those seeking the answers. The presence of a clinical librarian in the hospital setting is not new and has been discussed in the academic literature since these roles were first established in the 1970s (6). Although Austin Health is a long‐established institution in Melbourne's north‐east, the clinical librarian role has only been a feature of our library service for approximately 12 months. In this formative phase, breaking out of the shell of more established models of librarianship has been exciting, and has also taught us some valuable lessons. Mobility and flexibility are the keys to delivering clinical information to support clinicians and frontline health practitioners. Creating tailored education and training programs serves to build the capacity of the organisation by equipping staff and students to be self‐sufficient in accessing evidence. A clinical librarian who is not confined to the four walls of the library is a key part of the library being seen, and heard, and utilised.