Hello colleagues,

 

I recently gave a Grand Round presentation at our public teaching hospital on the benefits of a Clinical Librarian working in closer collaboration with clinicians. I had done a lot of research and reading both in Australia and overseas – UK and USA. One of the services I said that could be offered, and was offered by other clinical librarians, was to:

“attend ward rounds / clinical meetings where patients are present,  at the point of decision-making, to provide quality, evidence based information to the clinician.”

A couple of doctors raised issues of patient privacy and confidentiality, and I said I would discuss this further with our Privacy Officer to find out more. The doctor’s concern involved whether the patient would be comfortable with another person present on the care team who was not a clinician or not part of the multidisciplinary team. It is part of SA Health’s documentation on the Rights and Responsibilities of Patients.

 

The Privacy Officer said the Hospital would most likely not approve of me being present with patients in Ward Rounds for privacy, confidentiality and dignity reason. But I could be present at clinical handover, or “huddles” where patients were not present. At handover, I was informed, the clinicians would be talking more about care options and treatments where research may be required, more so than they would in front of the patient, as they only spend about 5 minutes per patient.

 

Has anyone who is running a clinical librarian service ever come across this particular issue when working with clinicians. How did you deal with it? Would you be willing to contact me to discuss it? I would be very grateful. Thank you.

 

Kind regards,  Wanda

Wanda Pomeroy
Site Library Manager
Lyell McEwin Hospital
SA Health Library Service
Government of South Australia

Tel: (08) 8133 2207

Front Desk Tel: (08) 8182 9170
Fax: (08) 8182 9321
E-mail: [log in to unmask]

 

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