Document Delivery Using docMD

Abstract

Health care professionals often request information delivered stat. Patient treatment is urgent. Any hospital library, large or small, that uses Internet document delivery (IDD) systems can place information in the hands of the health professional faster. Libraries that use Internet document delivery technologies can provide health care professionals with information more quickly. Ultimately, it could reduce the length of a hospital stay and reduce health care costs. However, hospital libraries are faced with significant barriers that prevent them from utilizing electronic document delivery systems. docMD successfully overcame barriers and allowed small and/or rural hospital libraries to take advantage of the benefits of electronic document delivery that larger libraries have enjoyed for over a decade. It provides health professionals affiliated with smaller hospitals an equal opportunity to access professional literature quickly in order to make quicker, well-informed patient care decisions. The docMD pilot project investigated, eliminated the barriers and provided IDD services to eleven small and rural hospital libraries using a centralized document mediation center. This paper provides background information, describes the creation of the docMD service delivery model and discusses possible future project outcomes.