Hospital library expands, changes name

“Knowledge restores a sense of competency, reduces fear, allows people to make informed decisions, and to know what questions to ask,” says Sandy Larson, Community Hospital librarian.

To help patients and the community improve their health awareness, Community Hospital has expanded the hospital’s Comprehensive Cancer Center library to cover all health topics and, fittingly, has renamed it the Health Resource Library.

The library opened four years ago with an extensive collection of books, videos, and pamphlets about cancer; an Image Center where chemotherapy patients can borrow wigs; and some materials on associated health topics such as nutrition and bereavement.

But when library staff tracked the kinds of information patrons wanted, they found that nearly a third of those library visitors asked questions that had nothing to do with cancer.

“People would come in and say, my husband has cancer but also diabetes, or high blood pressure. We had a small section on other diseases and issues, but not a lot,” Larson says.

“We realized that the library was serving only one unit of the hospital. It made sense to expand it to serve all our patients, their families, and the public,” says Michael Benedetti, program manager for the Hospice Resource Center.

Over the past year, the library’s holdings have expanded to include more than 2,000 books, videos, and pamphlets. Approximately half the materials are still about cancer; the rest cover everything from stroke and heart disease to diabetes, childbirth preparation, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. Computer terminals allow visitors to search the internet for additional information, with the guidance of trained experts if needed. The wig-lending service and other Cancer Center programs remain in place. In addition, the library maintains a directory of community resources to put patients in contact with support groups and organizations devoted to specific medical conditions. These resources include a new program called Transitions, for terminally ill patients who don’t yet qualify for hospice care.

“Now it’s much more representative of the spectrum of conditions that bring people to the hospital,” Larson says.

The library is a critical component of Community Hospital’s patient education and recovery programs. “When you are first diagnosed with something, that’s when your loss begins. But you often don’t know where to go,” Benedetti says. “All people have to do is pick up the phone and call us, and we can begin connecting them with programs we or other organizations offer.”

Medical information is notorious for changing overnight, but visitors will find only the most up-to-date resources at the library. “We try hard to keep only current information on the shelves. People can be assured all the materials have gone through a pretty rigorous selection process,” Larson says.

Library visitors will find a welcoming environment. All volunteers have completed extensive training and have experience helping people facing serious medical circumstances. “In those crisis moments, it’s really nice to have a non-threatening person there to listen and assist but not make judgments,” says Benedetti. “Their agenda is just to hear what your needs are and try to help you.” A medical librarian is also available to help visitors conduct more technical literature searches.

As a nexus for medical information as well as community health resources, the library is in a unique position to link patients with continuing support when they return home. “Let’s say mom’s diagnosed with diabetes and you want more information,” Benedetti explains. “We can do a search for the latest and greatest information, as well as connect you with a community agency or group.”

The hospital staff hopes the library’s expanded range will attract more people seeking health information. Last year, approximately 1,500 people visited the library; the hope is that this number will double after the expansion. The library is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. All services are available to the general public, free of charge.

To contact the Health Resource Library, call 622-2746 or visit Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.