Use of an information retrieval service in an obstetrics/gynecology residency program

The need for a more effective and timely method of keeping a department's faculty and house staff knowledgeable of current developments and research is recognized. A program utilizing the clinical librarian as a member of the patient care team has been developed by the staff of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Medical Library Department, UCLA Medical Center. The objectives, methodology, and costs of the program are described. At the completion of one year evaluation of the program indicates successful achievement of the objectives. Utilization of library literature search services by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology increased 12 percent after the program initiation.