Miles to go before we sleep: education, technology, and the changing paradigms in health information

Ana D Cleveland

doi:10.3163/1536-5050.99.1.011

Abstract

This lecture discusses a philosophy of educating health information professionals in a rapidly changing health care and information environment. Education for health information professionals must be based upon a solid foundation of the changing paradigms and trends in health care and health information, as well as technological advances, to produce a well-prepared information workforce to meet the demands of health-related environments. Educational programs should begin with the core principles of library and information sciences and expand in interdisciplinary collaborations. A model of the health care environment is presented to serve as a framework for developing educational programs for health information professionals. Interdisciplinary and collaborative relationships-which merge health care, library and information sciences, and other information-related disciplines-should form the basis of education for health information professionals.

Highlights

When I received the letter informing me that I was selected as the 2010 Janet Doe lecturer, I felt so many emotions, ranging from surprise to anxiety
I clearly remember myself as a young woman who was approached by Dr William Goffman, dean of the School of Library and Information Sciences at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), to offer me a National Library of Medicine (NLM) fellowship to study for a master’s degree in medical librarianship
My theme is that education for health information professionals must be based on a solid foundation of the changing paradigms and trends in health care and health information as well as technological advances to produce a well-prepared information workforce to meet the demands of health-related environments

Summary

Introduction

When I received the letter informing me that I was selected as the 2010 Janet Doe lecturer, I felt so many emotions, ranging from surprise to anxiety. The road on our journey to create the future health information professional through educational programs is to understand the environment in which the professional will work.

Results

Conclusion