Using Consumer Health Information to Meet the Needs of the Underserved

Librarians can be major contributors at multihealth profession community outreach efforts. East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine Library (ETSU QCOML) partnered with the Remote Area Medical Group (RAM) at two health "expeditions" in northeastern Tennessee to provide consumer health information to the people who came to the event for medical, dental, and vision care. A booth staffed by library workers that utilized MedlinePlus.gov was set up at each event. Preselected handouts were used along with online searching. The library booth was able to provide consumer health information to 1,310 people. By participating in this event, it allowed not only the library workers to assist the public with consumer health questions but also exposed other health care professionals to what medical librarians can do to directly help patients.