As a solo hospital librarian I wear many hats:
- Administrator
- Manager
- Cataloger
- Researcher
- Presenter
- Marketer/Promotion
- Accountant
- Web developer/manager
- And so forth…
The last few weeks I have been very focused on 1 hat… educator. Two weeks ago I tweeted about teaching EMR classes.
I had several responses asking how, what, when, who, etc. So that is what I am going to explain here. A little bit about what I am doing without going into too many details, but mostly about how and why.
A few weeks ago I was asked if I had time to help with training classes to teach RN, unit secretaries, medical assistants, respiratory therapists, etc. about our new EMR system. Of course I agreed to help out any way possible. After the initial feeling of being humbled I would be asked and included in this huge endeavor currently going on throughout the hospital, I then entered a state of shock. How am I, a medical librarian with no clinical knowledge, going to teach clinical workers how to use the new EMR? After all, what do I know about entering orders or even what to enter!
I quickly learned I would not have to teach processes, or clinical items. I would simply teach the computer system and the how-to of the system. Computers? I can do that no problem.
Ordering Lingo= PROBLEM
The first few days of learning the system and being trained as an educator was a roller coaster ride. Yes I can navigate the system very well, but understanding the lingo of ordering, the different processes throughout the hospital, and the day-to-day details were all new and often confusing. So I did what any typical librarian would do, I researched 
. I looked items up when I didn’t understand, or I asked the nurse sitting next to me. Thank you to the kind patient educators in the class with me, I couldn’t have made it without you!
Was it difficult? You betcha.
After completing the ‘train the trainer’ class, I have been teaching classes the last two weeks. The teaching is tag-team with a clinical educator. So I am not alone when I teach. I organize the class and teach the computer system. That’s it, and that is why I was asked to participate.
Over the last two years I have spent a great deal of time building relationships throughout the hospital, focusing on teaching and promoting technology. I am a member of our physician group currently working on order sets where I help with evidence based medicine research and ‘knowledge management.’ I don’t mean to brag, but I have, with the support of a great administration, built a reputation as a knowledgeable organized researcher that is also good with technology and teaching others. Am I an expert in any of this? Not even close. But when I don’t know something I do my best to figure it out.
Again, this took 2 years. How? I got out of the library. I went to the floors at 6am or midnight to present about the library. I begged and asked to be included in department meetings. When I didn’t have an answer, I researched and followed-up even if it was to say “Sorry I could not find anything,” I still followed-up. Anytime I had a captivated audience I talked about the library or technology.
Captivated audience, that is the key to why I am doing this. I mean teaching these classes is creating extra work for me and longer hours. So why would I want to do this? There are several reasons but here are my top 5:
- Experience
- Knowledge
- Understanding
- Promotion
- To Help
I now have experience with and knowledge about our EMR system. I also have a better understanding of the roles, responsibilities, and processes in our hospital. Finally, and this is a big one, before ever class I introduce myself:
“Hi. My name is Alisha Miles, manager of library services. Did you know we have a library? It is on the 4th floor stop by and see me sometime to get help with research or just to visit!”
Captivated audience! It works, very well. I have received several new requests from students in the classes I have taught. I’ve even had a few new visitors to the library.
Overall though I am teaching the classes to help. There was a need in the hospital, I was asked if I could help with filling the need, and I graciously accepted. The other four items are added benefits.
So why I am posting about this? It is not to brag or to say “look at me.” It is to show others what can be done. It takes work, extra hours, and a willingness to learn but it can be done. The library has grown into something completely different and I just hope I can keep growing with it.
