HLSP News - Spring 2021
A newsletter for the Health Care Practitioners of south central New York State. Brought to you by the Hospital Library Services Program (HLSP)
LitCovid: is a curated literature hub for tracking up-to-date scientific information about the 2019 novel Coronavirus. Provided by the NIH/NLM, it is the most comprehensive resource on the subject, providing a central access to 114416 (and growing) relevant articles in PubMed. The articles are updated daily and are further categorized by different research topics and geographic locations for improved access. 
Why is Digital Literacy So Important to Health?
The World Health Organization defines digital health literacy as the ability to seek, find, understand, and appraise health information from electronic sources and apply the knowledge gained to addressing or solving a health problem.
The Pew Research Center reported that 35% of U.S. adults have gone online to figure out a medical condition and that the internet is a de facto second opinion – and even first opinion – for many people. 
Libraries can play a crucial role in helping their patrons access quality health information by,
  1. Providing access to computers and high-speed internet
  2. Helping users develop the digital literacy skills needed to use the computer (e.g., how to use a mouse)
  3. Helping users develop the necessary skills to evaluate online health information resources
Telehealth and Libraries

COVID-19 created numerous changes in our daily lives - from social distancing measures, working from home, to the increased need for access to the internet. During this time, the digital divide, - those lacking access to the internet, especially for those is rural areas - began to be a topic of high importance.
As the virus began to spread across the United States, many people began to rely on telehealth technology to allow them virtual visits with their doctors. While this is an exciting and valuable technology, those without internet access are unable to use it - or they may need assistance in operating the software. This is where librarians are stepping in, to help assist their patrons with dedicated internet connections, the hardware, training, and private spaces where they can have telehealth visits with their physicians.
The following articles discuss librarians and the work they are doing to incorporate this service for their patrons, as well as resources and information from New York State:
Additional COVID-19 information on Rural Health can be found from the Federal Office of Rural Health and from the Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub).
A moment of reflection for all those lost on the frontlines of healthcare:

Kaiser Health News and Guardian US Win Batten Medal for “Lost on the Frontline”
 
 
The News Leaders Association (NLA) awarded KFF’s Kaiser Health News (KHN) and Guardian US the 2021 Batten Medal for Coverage of the Coronavirus Pandemic for their year-long “Lost on the Frontline” investigation documenting the lives of more than 3,600 health care workers in the U.S. who died of COVID-19 after contracting the disease on the job. 
 
The project honored their lives and asked, “Did so many have to die?” by investigating the circumstances of their exposure, examining the sometimes-unnecessary risks borne by those on the front lines of care.
Information Literature Searches

Do you need assistance finding credible health and medical information online? A journal article? Whether it is for patient care, research, or education, we offer an array of resources and assistance to obtain the items you need. Please see our

Molly Brown
Outreach Services Librarian
South Central Regional Library Council
For information about South Central's Hospital Library Services Program, contact Molly Brown at mbrown@scrlc.org or visit our Hospital Library Services webpage
South Central Regional Library Council | Clinton Hall, 108 N. Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY 14850 | 607-273-9106