Page 4 - B B Dikshit Library…AllMS, New Delhi
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Prof-in-Charge (Library)’s
Message …
Prof S Rajeshwari
Professor and HoD
Anaesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Management
Digital Health Connect
Knowledge has always been the goal of all mankind. Knowledge is not only power, but it is life and a cure,
especially in the context of medicine.
At AIIMS, the library culture has been very strong. The library and its resources have always been the
main source of material for preparing seminars, Journal clubs, to write theses and publish research. Three
decades ago, it was a laborious task to hunt for references in the voluminous Index Medicus and
subsequently to search for the related journals.
The last 3 decades have been witness to the Internet revolution, which has impacted availability of, and
access to, medical knowledge resources in an unprecedented manner. Taking a cue, many organizations,
notably Libraries, have expanded their access to digital knowledge resources to a remarkable extent, and
also enhanced the services needed to reach these resources to users. This kind of unhampered, actively
assisted access to knowledge is advantageous as it can democratize health; health experts, students,
citizens can be on the same platform, increase their awareness of disease and health practices and stay
tuned to recent developments. However, we need to ensure that this knowledge extravaganza is used by
all, is not redundant, and is incorporated into clinical practice and research. Thus:
1. ALL users (students, faculty, nurses, research personnel) should be able to access the resources
offered by the library. Digital health literacy presupposes the presence of Digital literacy. It
needs to be assessed whether ALL users know the process of accessing knowledge through the
device/s at their disposal, and it can be enhanced by means of virtual tutorials and classes at
Departmental level.
2. Knowledge overload/superfluous or redundant information is one of the fallouts of unsupervised
subscriptions to digital content or databases. Robust research information management systems,
if in place, can track, by means of usage data and research output of an institution, and
determine whether all the available information is being used or not.
3. Knowledge translation should be facilitated at every step, which essentially means bridging the
‘know-do’ gap to maximally utilize the knowledge resources, into measurable results in terms of
improved in-patient care, enhanced teaching and training, acquisition of new skills, innovative
research and remote monitoring of patients. The efficacy of knowledge translation can be
monitored to some extent by quality assurance, technology transfer, etc.
For the busy clinician and student, simple updated information on the use of available digital resources
would be a boon and motivate them to enhance their clinical knowledge, teaching, skills and research.
The Digital Health Connect Newsletter initiated by BB Dikshit library will, I am sure, be such an
instrument, and demonstrate how an academic library with an effective digital resource access can
change the face and functioning of a hospital. I am certain that the coming together on the same
platform of the providers and users will result in widespread and effective use of digital health resources.
(Prof S Rajeshwari)
Prof-in-Charge (Library)’s
Message …
Prof S Rajeshwari
Professor and HoD
Anaesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Management
Digital Health Connect
Knowledge has always been the goal of all mankind. Knowledge is not only power, but it is life and a cure,
especially in the context of medicine.
At AIIMS, the library culture has been very strong. The library and its resources have always been the
main source of material for preparing seminars, Journal clubs, to write theses and publish research. Three
decades ago, it was a laborious task to hunt for references in the voluminous Index Medicus and
subsequently to search for the related journals.
The last 3 decades have been witness to the Internet revolution, which has impacted availability of, and
access to, medical knowledge resources in an unprecedented manner. Taking a cue, many organizations,
notably Libraries, have expanded their access to digital knowledge resources to a remarkable extent, and
also enhanced the services needed to reach these resources to users. This kind of unhampered, actively
assisted access to knowledge is advantageous as it can democratize health; health experts, students,
citizens can be on the same platform, increase their awareness of disease and health practices and stay
tuned to recent developments. However, we need to ensure that this knowledge extravaganza is used by
all, is not redundant, and is incorporated into clinical practice and research. Thus:
1. ALL users (students, faculty, nurses, research personnel) should be able to access the resources
offered by the library. Digital health literacy presupposes the presence of Digital literacy. It
needs to be assessed whether ALL users know the process of accessing knowledge through the
device/s at their disposal, and it can be enhanced by means of virtual tutorials and classes at
Departmental level.
2. Knowledge overload/superfluous or redundant information is one of the fallouts of unsupervised
subscriptions to digital content or databases. Robust research information management systems,
if in place, can track, by means of usage data and research output of an institution, and
determine whether all the available information is being used or not.
3. Knowledge translation should be facilitated at every step, which essentially means bridging the
‘know-do’ gap to maximally utilize the knowledge resources, into measurable results in terms of
improved in-patient care, enhanced teaching and training, acquisition of new skills, innovative
research and remote monitoring of patients. The efficacy of knowledge translation can be
monitored to some extent by quality assurance, technology transfer, etc.
For the busy clinician and student, simple updated information on the use of available digital resources
would be a boon and motivate them to enhance their clinical knowledge, teaching, skills and research.
The Digital Health Connect Newsletter initiated by BB Dikshit library will, I am sure, be such an
instrument, and demonstrate how an academic library with an effective digital resource access can
change the face and functioning of a hospital. I am certain that the coming together on the same
platform of the providers and users will result in widespread and effective use of digital health resources.
(Prof S Rajeshwari)
