CLINICAL LIBRARIAN SERVICE IN THE PHILIPPINES: EXPERIENCE IN A CRITICAL CARE SETTING OF A TERTIARY HOSPITAL

Abstract

Considered as the earliest form of embedded librarianship, a clinical librarian service/program involves the provision of information directly at the point of care. Being at the place where patient care is being delivered, the clinical librarian can provide specialized and timely information to health care professionals. Numerous studies on the potential, benefits, and effectiveness of clinical librarianship have been published. However, its practice and implementation in most hospitals around the world, especially in the Philippines, is not yet prevalent. This case study describes the experiences of a clinical librarian in a critical care unit of a private tertiary hospital in Quezon City from 2013 up to 2018. Roles and activities performed by the clinical librarian in the neurocritical care unit are presented. Recommendations on establishing a clinical librarian service, particularly in the Philippines, are discussed.