Library instruction within the medical record administration curriculum

A course for medical record administration (MRA) students has been developed at the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences Library. The course's objectives are: (1) to train students in the use of the resources and services of health sciences libraries and (2) to provide basic instruction in the organization, operation, and management of a small hospital library. These objectives are met by integrating library use instruction within the MRA curriculum and by presenting a five-week hospital library management workshop. Library use instruction includes a library orientation and sessions on the use of major reference sources, writing for publication, and the use and evaluation of the medical record literature. The workshop covers the role of the medical record administrator as manager of the hospital library. Sessions cover basic principles of hospital library administration, technical and public services, and sources of outside assistance. Results are reported of a survey of graduates conducted to determine whether a need for the course still existed and if the changes made as a result of the evaluation process were appropriate. The teaching methods and evaluation techniques used in this course are applicable to library instruction in other disciplines.