National
Network of Libraries for Health
Réseau national des bibliothèques pour la
santé
Activities [Français]
Activities
June 2010: Announcing the Canadian Virtual Health Library Project Leader
Patrick
Ellis, Principal Investigator of the Canadian Virtual Health Library
(CVHL) initiative, and the other CVHL Task Force members,
are pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Bayne as the CVHL
Project Leader. CVHL is a proposed national network of libraries for
health that will collaborate to deliver services equitably to health
professionals across Canada and to locate and realize efficiencies in
resource sharing and consortial licensing. The project recently
received $800,000 over three years from the Canadian Institutes of
Health Research.
Jennifer will be responsible for managing all aspects of the CVHL implementation including the hiring of Project Managers for the IT Strategy and Content streams. She will work with the Task Force and the future Board of the CVHL to communicate regularly with key stakeholders and to ensure the successful operation of the CVHL.
Jennifer draws on a background informed by the theory and practice of knowledge management. Her degrees include a Master of Library Science and a Master of Business Administration. She is a senior leader in the field of knowledge management in Canada with 28 years experience in the health industry, working for major academic health science centres, Canada Health Infoway, the Romanow Commission and the Centre for Global eHealth Innovation at the University of Toronto. She has provided consultancy services to federal and provincial governments, government agencies, teaching hospitals, volunteer organizations, and other consulting firms. Jennifer has taught the Health Sciences Information Resources course at the Faculty of Information, University of Toronto for many years and has authored eleven publications, including co-authoring the award-winning paper “Peer Informatics Tutoring for Medical Students: the Toronto Experience” [Bibl Medica Can. 2001. Spring; 22(3):121.–7.] She is a skilled writer and presenter, and is fluent in both official languages.
January 2010: The Canadian Virtual Health Library Received Funding from CIHR
CIHR approved multi-year funding of $800,000 (year 1: $500,000; year 2: $200,000; year 3: $100,000) to implement the CVHL structure. Additional funding from public funds and participating organizations will be identified for national licensing of electronic health resources, with a goal of self-sustainability within 3 years. Announcements: CHLA ~ CIHR | FAQ
October 2009: Canadian Virtual Health Library (CVHL)
The CHLA/ABSC Board approved the mandate of the CVHL Task Force. The detailed planning document for the creation of the CVHL was revised and updated and was posted for consideration and input. The CVHL will build on existing library services through a National Network of Libraries of Health. Funding commitments to support the implementation of a CVHL have been received from the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists and the Canadian Nurses Association. CISTI has remained a strong supporter and committed to in-kind support. Additional support has been received from individuals, and associations. A sampling of those who have provided letters of support includes:
- Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL)
- Centre de santé et de services sociaux de Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- Ordre des Infirmières et infirmiers du Québec
- Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI)
- Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec
- Lung Association of Canada
- National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools
- Canadian Library Association (CLA)
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
- College of Family Physicians of Canada
- Canadian Patient Safety Institute
- Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)
- Canadian Physiotherapy Association
- Canadian Health Services Research Foundation
- Canadian Dental Association
- Cational Library of Medicine (US)
- Collège des médecins du Québec
The CVHL Task Force extends thanks to these individuals and organizations for recognizing the value provided by the CVHL initiative for health care providers across the country. The momentum created by this support has been essential to creating and leveraging funding opportunities. The Task Force has applied for funding, and if successful would move fully into development in 2010.
April 2009 - CHLA/ABSC and the National Cochrane Library Pilot
The Cochrane Library is now available to all Canadians for a nine month trial period ending December 31, 2009. This pilot project is a joint initiative of the Canadian Cochrane Network and Centre and the Canadian Health Library Association / Association des bibliothèques de la santé du Canada (CHLA/ABSC).
(FAQ for more information...) UPDATE: Pilot continued to January 31, 2010.
How can you help?
|
Dianne Kharouba, President, CHLA and Mary Ellen Schaafsma, Executive Director, Canadian Cochrane Network and Centre April 15, 2009 |
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Link to the Cochrane Library: www.thecochranelibrary.com |
March 2009 - CHLA/ABSC and the NNLH/CVHL Transition Team announced Jennifer Bayne, with the support of Courtyard Group, as the Canadian Virtual Health Library Transition Phase Project Leader. Jennifer is a former CHLA/ABSC president (1992-93) and an outstanding leader in the area of knowledge management in healthcare. She has amassed 27 years of experience in the health industry, working for major academic health science centers, Canada Health Infoway, the Romanow Commission and the Centre for Global eHealth Innovation at the University of Toronto. She has managed major projects, including the implementation of Toronto’s first hospital-based Virtual Library; and Ontario’s first fee-based information service (HealthSearch). She also has extensive experience with consortia and is bilingual. In her role as project leader for this three-month contract (March – May), Jennifer will validate the Phase 1 Project Plan for the CVHL, develop a stakeholder engagement and communications strategy, and secure committed funding from selected stakeholders.
July 2008 - Phase 0 of the Canadian Virtual Health Library (CVHL) was completed in May 2008. Canada Health Infoway accepted the Phase 0 deliverables which include the Environmental Scan, and the Feasibility Study and Readiness Assessment. The final Phase 0 deliverable, the Phase 1 proposal, was also accepted for review/consideration.
May 2008 - The CVHL task force was reconfigured into a smaller transition team tasked with communicating with members and talking to potential partners about participation and funding.
Publications:
- McGowan, Jessie; Ellis, Patrick; Tugwell, Peter. Access to the medical literature. CMAJ. 2007 Jul 17;177(2):176-177.
- Canadian clinicians and patients need clean, clear knowledge. CMAJ. 2006 Jul 18;175(2):129, 131. PMID: 16847269
- Canada urgently needs a national network of libraries to access evidence. McGowan J, Straus SE, Tugwell P. Healthc Q. 2006;9(1):72-4, 4. PMID: 16548438
- McGowan, Jessie; Ellis, Patrick. National Network of Libraries would benefit dentists. J Can Dent Assoc (Tor). 2006;72(8):689. [Entire issue available.]
June 8, 2007 - CHLA/ABSC's NNLH/RNBS Task Force participated in a meeting hosted by Canada Health Infoway (CHI) to discuss the potential for creating a Virtual Health Library (VHL) as part of the broader NNLH/RNBS proposal.
Results:
- Very enthusiastic endorsement by all attendees to just make the NNLH/RNBS happen
- The NNLH/RNBS task force will draft a proposal seeking Health Infoway funding for a Phase 0 project. The Phase 0 project will refine and validate the model for the creation of a Virtual Health Library as a first step in the development of a robust and viable network that will ensure that health care providers across the country have easy and equitable access to the best information for patient care.
- A Steering Group was established
February 26, 2007: A Progress and Planning Meeting for the National Network of Libraries for Health, was held at CISTI, Ottawa. The purpose of the meeting was to
- discuss the Concept of Operations
- review some exciting new development
- advise on a meeting with the broader community of stakeholders in May 2007
- move the NNLH/RNBS initiative forward
The meeting was facilitated by Wayne Glover of AssociationsFirst.
January 24, 2007: Canada Health Infoway invited a diverse group of practitioners, researchers and librarians to the Infoway offices in Toronto under the rubric Health Resources Group to discuss access to health knowledge resources, initiatives, challenges and approaches to supporting the knowledge needs of clinicians. Task Force members Jim Henderson and Patrick Ellis attended. (Report and list of participants attached.)
September 2006: Concept of Operations was released.
May 14-15, 2006: The NNLH Task Force presented to the CHLA Board, held an Open Discussion with members and provided an Update during the CHLA Conference in Vancouver.
May, 2006: Draft Concept of Operations released to the NNLH Project Advisory Team (PAT) and Task Force.
February 6, 2006: Request for Proposal (RFP) contract finalized.
December 2005: RFP awarded to TDV Global.
November 25, 2005: Project Advisory Team made a decision on the winning proposal.
October 12, 2005: Deadline for RFP submissions
September 12, 2005: RFP issued
July 2005: Established a Project Advisory Team (PAT) to:
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Draft a Request for Proposal (RFP) to invite interested and qualified consultants/firms to submit a proposal for the development of a Business Plan for a NNLH/RNBS.
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Develop NNLH/RNBS Business Plan: Based on consultations with key stakeholders and potential network users, an examination of existing services and models, and an analysis of the unique national and jurisdictional context in which the Network will operate, the business plan will provide recommendations and specifications for the establishment, development, operation, governance, funding, and evaluation of a National Network of Libraries for Health for Canada.
- Project Advisory Team Members:
- Judy Inglis, (PHAC)
- Jessie McGowan, (U. Ottawa)
- Bev Brown (CISTI)
- Micheline Jaworski (Canadian Nurses Association
- Wayne Glover (Project Manager).
June 17, 2005: A very successful Stakeholders Meeting was held at CISTI in Ottawa. There were 15 participants from a variety of organizations, in addition to 5 members of the Task Force and a facilitator. A meeting summary will be available shortly. The agenda, the documents distributed and the slides used are available.
June 1-3, 2005: The Task Force once again held meetings with the CHLA/ABSC Board and membership during the annual conference. At the "Roundtable" the agenda and desired outcomes for the upcoming Stakeholders Meeting were presented, and members asked probing questions and made useful suggestions to help plan a successful meeting for June 17.
March-May, 2005: Information on the Provincial Initiatives [link to be added] was updated.
January-June, 2005: Detailed planning for the Stakeholders Meeting, to be held in Ottawa on June 17, 2005. October 5, 2004: Task Force members Jessie McGowan, Jim Henderson and Patrick Ellis conducted a pre-Stakeholders Meeting during the Cochrane Colloquium in Ottawa. [Summary of the meeting]
October 2004: Marcel Nouvet advised that a Cochrane Library rollout was a provincial matter and Health Canada would not be going forward on the Cochrane proposal. Hélène Valin informed the Task Force that the reorganization within the Health Canada Division of Information and Knowledge Management meant that she would no longer be able to work on the NNLH/RNBC Task Force.
September 2004: Jessie McGowan and representatives from the Canadian Cochrane Network and Centre met with Marcel Nouvet (Assistant Deputy Minister) and Jean-Claude Barre (Senior Advisor) from Health Canada, Information, Analysis and Connectivity Branch and Dr. Pierre Gerlier Forest, Acting Chief Scientist, Office of the Chief Scientist to discuss a national site license for the Cochrane Library.September 2004: The Task Force approached the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) regarding having a presence at their 2nd Canadian Conference on Literacy and Health. The Task Force was invited to attend, October 17-19.
September 2004: Invitations to the pre-Stakeholders Meeting were sent by the Task Force to:- Canadian Medical Association
- Canadian Dental Association
- Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
- Canadian Nurses Association
- College of Family Physicians
- Canadian Pharmacists Assocation
- L'Agence d'évaluation des technologies et des mode d'intervention en santé (AETMIS)
- Section Santé, ASTED
- Canadian Cancer Society
- Canadian Womens Health Network
- Canadian Institute for the Relief of Pain and Disability
- Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information
August 2004: The Task Force and the Canadian Cochrane Network and Centre jointly submitted a proposal to Health Canada promoting a national license for the Cochrane Library. The letter was directed to three Associate Deputy Ministers in Health Canada:
- Ian Shugart, Health Policy Branch
- Ian Potter, First Nations And Inuit Health Branch
- Marcel Nouvet, Information, Analysis And Connectivity Branch
August 2004; The Task Force welcomed the new federal Minister of Health, Ujjal Dosanjh and advocated for a national network; the Support the NNLH! page was added to the Web site.
July 2004: Correspondence with the Canadian Library Association and the National Library of Canada was initiated by Task Force; a report was submitted to the Toronto Health Libraries Association Bulletin; an article was drafted for the Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association. June-October 2004: Planning began for a pre-Stakeholders Meeting in Ottawa to be convergent with the Cochrane Colloquium. May 2004: Repeated efforts to meet with now departed Sonya Corkum, Vice President for Knowledge Translation, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, were unsuccessful; Jim Henderson reported to the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada library directors; a report was submitted to the Ontario Health Libraries Association (OHLA) for its newsletter and OHLA invited the task force to present at OLA Superconference 05May 14-18, 2004: The Task Force had excellent and reviving meetings throughout the CHLA/ABSC conference. A particular high point was the big "roundtable" discussion where colleagues from around the country shared their advice and insight. It was at this meeting that the idea to create a "NNLH support button" for members to add to their web pages. This was designed and made available by Tim Tripp in August 2004. During the conference, the Task Force proposed holding a stakeholders conference to enlist community support. The CHLA/ABSC board agreed, and extended the Task Force term by two years. CHLA/ABSC President Penny Logan, and Secretary Charlotte Beck joined the Task Force.
April 2004: the NNLH/RNBC Web pages went live; Jessie McGowan corresponded with the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) regarding shared opportunities.
February 2004: Task force members Jessie McGowan, Jim Henderson and Patrick Ellis attended Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) knowledge brokering focus groups in their respective cities. Jessie McGowan met with Irving Gold, Assistant Director, Knowledge Transfer. Mr. Gold did not see an exact fit, but was happy to work with us where possible and suggested a "stakeholder" type conference.
February 2004: Discussions were held within the context of a Canadian federal government inter-departmental learning initiative to gain greater awareness of potential strategies for raising profile of the NNLH.
January 2004: Dalhousie University Archivist, Michael Moosberger, saw very promising linkages for NNLH/RNBC, in particular in dealing with Canadian grey literature pertaining to health and Association tie ins with potential funding on projects, e.g. national survey of health research.Fall 2003 to Winter 2004: Began discussions with Health Canada for collaborating on a possible assessment of departmental health information available to the general public as well as to health professionals.
February 2003 to June 2003: The NNLH Task Force conducted an environmental scan of provincial initiatives aimed at providing access to quality health information for all health care practitioners. An NNLH Round Table was held during the 2003 annual meeting of the Canadian Health Libraries Association (CHLA) during which it is clear that access to health information for health care practitioners is a major issue in every province, with projects at different stages of development and success.
February 2003: CHLA issued a press release recommending that the NNLH proposal aims to ensure that all health care providers have equal access to the best information for patient care. While the services proposed parallel those already available in many nations, the Network is designed to fit the Canadian health care model and fill in the information gaps inherent in a complex health delivery system.
February 2003: The Romanow Report highlighted the need for Canadians to have "assurance that their health care providers have access to complete information about their health, as well as the latest information on health treatments, protocols and guidelines."
Fall 2002: CHLA submitted a proposal to the Romanow Commission towards the need for a NNLH. "Health practitioners everywhere in the country need the same access to the best information. They all need to share knowledge and evidence. NNLH will provide this access and this capability. NNLH will build a platform for change, cooperation and sustainability upon Canadian values." http://www.chla-absc.ca/news/romanow.html
June 2002: As a result of discussions at the ACHI June meeting, it was agreed by everyone including the Infoway representative that IPS was closely associated with Electronic Health Records and would be pursued by Infoway.
January 2002: Integrated Provider Solutions (IPS) held a Key Informant Group meeting in Toronto. Outcomes stated that IPS systems could provide supplementary evidence-based knowledge at the time of the patient encounter, and access to a broad range of additional knowledge resources on an on-going basis, e.g. on-line journals, medical libraries, continuing professional education. Furthermore, it stated that the knowledge must be packaged so that it can be made available, and that the knowledge community, including universities and medical libraries, has a vast amount of work to get ready for IPS. Also, it added that most of the current systems and knowledge resources are directed towards the needs of doctors, and not towards the needs of nurses or other providers.
Fall 2001-Winter 2002: CHLA focus groups and the NNLH: major issues raised are inequitable access for health professionals to health literature and knowledge; the growing demand by health professionals for health information; the misapprehension that either someone is taking care of making the literature accessible, or that "it's all on the web". Consistently, the focus groups confirmed that there is a need for a national network, and that there is a broad willingness to develop one.
Summer 2001: The Advisory Council on Health Infostructure (ACHI) working group developed a survey to seek input from provinces and the federal government on current status of development of several key areas which would be part of the Integrated Provider Solutions (IPS) Initiative. The NNLH Steering Group included two questions which related to access to health information by health professionals and results indicated that there is interest in providing access to heath information to practitioners as part of the IPS initiative.
Spring 2001: Government On Line submission presented but not accepted due, in part, to lack of information on costs for sustainability and return on investment.
Fall 2000: Canadian Health Libraries Association (CHLA) sought support from Health Canada to look into the development of a National Network of Libraries for Health. A Steering Committee was created with librarian representatives from hospitals, universities, health associations, Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI) and Health Canada. Guiding principles and models were developed.