The IAIMS--an essential infrastructure for increasing the competitiveness of health care practices.

The eighth annual workshop of the IAIMS Consortium was devoted to exploring how information technology might provide the tools to allow health care practices to compete in the new health care environment while maintaining independence. The options that were discussed included: optimizing care of the patient in the local setting; reducing practice overhead by improving efficiency and effectiveness; and finding innovative strategies for providing health care and new products.

The image of health sciences librarians: how we see ourselves and how patrons see us.

A survey was conducted to solicit data related to health professionals image of librarians. Physicians, residents, nurses, medical students, dentists, pharmacists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists were questioned about their experiences with and opinions of librarians, particularly the skills and characteristics needed by helpful, successful librarians. Health sciences librarians were also questioned about their own professional image and their perceptions of their patrons' impression of librarians. Librarians and health professionals alike ranked good communication as the most important skill for librarians. Computer or technological skills were ranked fourth by librarians but second by health professionals. Although librarians tended to describe themselves in slightly more positive terms than did their patrons, health professionals viewed librarians as approachable, responsive, supportive, and open to change. Health professionals also reported that they received accurate, reliable, and timely information from librarians and that this information was valuable.

The Health Information Technology Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Everyone working in health care today is overwhelmed by scientific and medical information. Effective use of this information requires access to sophisticated information communications technologies. At the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Health Information Technology Center provides these technologies for biomedical research, medical education, clinical service, and health policy analysis. Several of the center's services are available to community health care providers through the college's Medical Information Network.

Perspectives on medical school library services in Turkey.

This paper gives a brief overview of medical education in Turkey and shows the impact of established social, educational, and economic patterns upon current medical library services. Current statistical information is given on the twenty-two medical school libraries in Turkey. Principal problems and chief accomplishments with library services are highlighted and discussed.

Information on wheels--library outreach.

Information on Wheels is an outreach service of the Medical College of Wisconsin Libraries. A mobile cart loaded with professional books and journals is taken weekly to the hospital unit and outpatient clinic of the Milwaukee County Hospital and Froedtert Hospital. The targeted audience is primarily nurses since their job demands usually allow little time flexibility, and they make up the largest percentage of hospital health care professionals. After one year of service, a survey was undertaken to determine the usefulness of the service. The results were very positive. One comment repeated was, "This is an excellent service because it provides easy access to pertinent information to people who are sometimes too busy or don't think to go to the library."