This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Grajek, S. E. Articles by Sullivan, J. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Grajek, S. E. Articles by Sullivan, J. E.

Evaluating IAIMS at Yale

Information Access

Affiliations of the authors: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (SEG, PC, SJF, JM, PLM, JAP, NKR); Yale—New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT (JES).

Correspondence and reprint requests to: Susan Grajek, PhD, Medical Information Technology Services, 333 Cedar Street, P.O. Box 208000, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8000. e-mail: susan.grajek{at}yale.edu

Abstract Objective: To evaluate use of information resources during the first year of IAIMS implementation at the Yale—New Haven Medical Center. The evaluation asked: (1) Which information resources are being used? (2) Who uses information resources? (3) Where are information resources used? (4) Are multiple sources of information being integrated?

Design: Measures included monthly usage data for resources delivered network-wide, in the Medical Library, and in the Hospital; online surveys of library workstation users; an annual survey of a random, stratified sample of Medical Center faculty, postdoctoral trainees, students, nurses, residents, and managerial and professional staff; and user comments.

Results: Eighty-three percent of the Medical Center community use networked information resources, and use of resources is increasing. Both status (faculty, student, nurse, etc.) and mission (teaching, research, patient care) affect use of individual resources. Eighty-eight percent of people use computers in more than one location, and increases in usage of traditional library resources such as MEDLINE are due to increased access from outside the Library. Both survey and usage data suggest that people are using multiple resources during the same information seeking session.

Conclusions: Almost all of the Medical Center community is using networked information resources in more settings. It is necessary to support increased demand for information access from remote locations and to specific populations, such as nurses. People are integrating information from multiple sources, but true integration within information systems is just beginning. Other institutions are advised to incorporate pragmatic evaluation into their IAIMS activities and to share evaluation results with decision-makers.