The clinical librarian: new team member for a Family Practice Inpatient Service

A clinical librarian program was developed for the Family Practice Inpatient Service at the San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center. Objectives of this special service were: (1) to provide relevant articles and other printed resources relating to patient care problems; (2) to alert the team to library resources; (3) to assist the attending physicians in building a reading file for the inpatient service; and (4) to determine library service needs of the team. Two patient cases are included which illustrate how the clinical librarian service functioned. The program was successful and is recommended for inclusion in other family practice programs or inpatient units.