The document discusses the role of an informationist in supporting clinical research teams. It describes how an informationist was integrated into a breast cancer screening study to improve communication within the team about data, articulate technology issues, and enhance the information skills of team members. The informationist developed resources like a data dictionary, conducted literature reviews, and assisted with systematic reviews and knowledge management. The document also discusses how an informationist provided consultation, collaboration, and dissemination services to a community engagement research group by developing best practices guides, tools for knowledge sharing, and measuring research impact.

1. Lamar Soutter Library
University of Massachusetts Medical
School
2013
Sally Gore, MS, MS LIS

2. In an epic battle between
Hollywood and
healthcare,
the question remains…
Who will win?
^PowerPoint presentation

3. These new professionals might be called
informationists (not a graceful term, but one
that parallels such terms as gastroenterologists
or hospitalists), or clinical knowledge workers
(in parallel with social workers).

4.  The informationist programme was designed to
integrate information services, not just
resources, into the workplace of NIH clinical
and bench scientists and science
administrators.
Whitmore, S.C., Grefsheim, S.F., & Rankin, J.A. (2008) Informationist programme in support of biomedical resear
a programme description and preliminary findings of an evaluation, Health Information & Libraries Journal,
25(2), p. 135-141.
WOW! I never have to
go to the library again!

5. How’s that
working out
for you?

6.  Librarian
Expert in health information resources
 Collection development
 General reference
assistance
 Instruction
 Searching assistance
 Informationist
Expert in health information resources
and extensive domain knowledge
 Consultation services
 Database training
 Systematic review
 Knowledge management
 Writing
T
O

7. The Informationist in Real Life
Study:
R01 CA-132935
Promoting Breast Cancer Screening in Non-Adherent Women
Principal Investigators:
• Roger Luckmann, MD
• Mary Costanza, MD
+
+

8.  UMass Medical School
 Family & Community
Medicine
 Principal Investigator
 Project Director
 Scheduler, Counselor Instructor
 Administrative Secretary
 Medicine
 Principal Investigator
 Behavioral Psychologist
 Biostatistics
 Biostatistician
 Analyst
 Center for Health Policy &
Research
 Director, Expert in Cost Analysis
 Research Assistant
 Library
 Informationist
 Fallon Community Health Plan
 Claims Data Representative
 Reliant Medical Group
 Research Director
 Research Coordinator
 Site Project Director
 Analyst
 IT Guru
 Chief of Radiology
 Phone Counselors
 Phone Schedulers
 Primary Care Physicians
 Claricode
 Programmer

9. STAGING DATA CLAIMS DATA
TRACKING SYSTEM
DATA
ANALYTIC DATA

10.  AIM 1: Improve effectiveness and efficiency of
communication w/in team regarding data
 AIM 2: Articulate technology issues related to
implementation of the study
 AIM 3: Enhance information
organization, management, utilization, and
access skills of team members
 AIM 4: Assess value of an informationist to the
research team

11.  Develop a catalogue of analytic terms, i.e. a
comprehensive data dictionary
 Develop a standard data request form

12.  Define the issues encountered during
development of the tracking system /
database
 Discover literature related to the topic
 Identify the gaps in existing literature
 Develop an electronic catalog of relevant
publications and resources
 Write and publish a paper on the topic

13.  Assist in systematic review of telephone outreach
interventions to increase adherence to mammograms
 Develop system for collection, distribution, and review of articles
 Prepare and maintain timeline for project
 Develop catalog of relevant resources on development
and evaluation of screening / preventive interventions
 Establish and/or define rules
 Set criteria
 Create maintenance features

14. INFORMATIONIST’S
PERSPECTIVE
RESEARCH TEAM’S
PERSPECTIVE
 Process Evaluation
Reports
 Focus Group
 Individual Interviews
http://librarianhats.net

15. The Informationist in Real Life
Group:
UMass Center for Clinical & Translational Science
Community Engagement Research Section
CER Team:
• Ira Ockene, MD
• Stephenie Lemon, PhD
• Suzanne Cashman, ScD
• Phil Merriam, MS
• Amy Borg, MPH, MEd
DISSEMINATI
ON
CONSULTATI
ON
COLLABORA
TION

16.  Perform extensive literature
review
 Develop a catalog of best
practices
 Develop a collection of
resources
 Build tools for disseminating
research
 Build tools for collecting and
archiving growing knowledge
base
 Measure impact of CER
DISSEMINATI
ON

17.  Provide knowledge
management services
 Literature reviews
 Bibliographic management
 Data management
 Information organization
 Database design
 Knowledge mapping
 Provide education on
information organization and
management
 Provide assistance with all
aspects related to NIH Public
Access Policy
CONSULTATI
ON

18.  Develop tools and/or means to
promote collaboration among
researchers
 Database of researchers by
specialty
 Controlled vocabulary
 List-serv archive
 eNewsletters, ePubs
 Measure impact via social
network analysis
COLLABORA
TION

19. FASEB
Science Policy Committee Face-to-Face Meeting
May15, 2012
http://opa1.faseb.org/agendas/spc/PDF/2012/July/SPC%20Symposium%20Presentations.pdf
EFFECTIVENESS
EFFICIENCY
WHY AN
INFORMATIONIST ON
YOUR TEAM?