Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA)

Indicator for Library / Information Services

The proposed Indicator for Library / Information Services was introduced to CHLA/ABSC in 2002. CHLA/ABSC Representatives to the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA) have completed several major revisions and invited all health libraries to test the indicator in 2003 one years' worth (12 months) of retrospective data, hoping to capture data from a broad spectrum of Canadian health sectors.

Participants were asked to complete the automated Data Collection Form and submit. The Form was prepared for participants to ease the task of entering data to complete the test and assist in gathering the data required to assess the test results. Data was not collected across Canadian hospital/health care libraries, but rather to collect feedback on how well the indicator worked for libraries in different health sectors.

Please refer to the complete document, flow chart, and sample calculation for more information.

This is a first indicator to measure the impact of Library and Information Services on patient-care outcomes and utilization. The impact is achieved through appropriateness of care, reduction in length of stay, and lowering of costs, without diminishing healthcare access or services. The indicator is designed to determine for what percentage of inpatient admissions or new cases, mediated information retrieval services are provided. We believe that a percentage greater than 13% = worthwhile savings per patient.

Thank you for your participation in this test phase. Your time and your feedback were greatly appreciated. Feedback from the test phase highlighted some workability challenges that have made it necessary to retire the indicator project in its present form. The original indicator (Appendix A of the indicator document) is usable and is supported by research evidence, but may not reflect the impact of library services that depend on electronic resources. The second version of the indicator, which was an adaptation of the original indicator to the electronic environment, showed in field tests that it does not work in all situations. Recommendations have been made to CHLA/ABSC as a result of this research. Future endeavours are under discussion by the CHLA Board. Enquiries can be made to President - CHLA/ABSC.

The CHLA/ABSC Representatives to CCHSA greatly appreciate the support provided by CHLA/ABSC over the years in facilitating this research project.

CHLA/ABSC 2001-2003 Indicator Working Group Membership included: