Navigating the World of Medical Knowledge: The UCLA Biomedical Library's Resources and Services

The Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library at UCLA serves as a vital hub for medical information, supporting researchers, clinicians, students, and even patients. Located on the southeast side of the university’s campus, the library offers a wide array of resources and services, adapting to the evolving landscape of medical research and practice. It plays a crucial role in ensuring that the UCLA community has access to the information they need to advance healthcare and knowledge.

A Shift in Librarianship: From Infrastructure to Information Navigation

Bob Johnson, a clinical and research support librarian at the Biomedical Library, emphasizes a significant change in the role of medical librarians. While the library still maintains a collection of hard-copy medical journals and teaching materials, the digital realm has become increasingly important. The abundance of information available on the web requires specialized skills to effectively locate relevant and reliable resources. Johnson specializes in serving doctors and faculty, dedicating significant time to each researcher to understand their needs and guide them through the available literature. This collaborative process can range from a few hours to several years, depending on the complexity of the research. To streamline requests, UCLA Library launched an online portal to triage systematic review consultations.

Supporting Medical Research: A Collaborative Approach

The Biomedical Library team receives numerous requests from the university network daily, highlighting the demand for their expertise. Jake Toy, an emergency room doctor at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, sought out the library's support to research artificial intelligence in medical contexts. Toy's collaboration with Johnson proved rewarding, leading to the publication of an article on trauma and artificial intelligence. His research revealed a growing body of studies on the use of AI to predict patient outcomes, such as the need for blood transfusions or the likelihood of survival.

Addressing Patient Needs: Providing Clarity and Guidance

Researchers are not the only individuals who benefit from the Biomedical Library. Patients, often visiting after appointments at the Westwood UCLA Medical Plaza, also seek assistance. Johnson recognizes that receiving a diagnosis can be overwhelming, making it difficult to retain important information. He offers support by listening to patients, helping them search for information about their conditions, potential treatment options, and expected outcomes. He also provides notecards to help them draft questions for their doctors, ensuring they can effectively communicate their concerns and understand their care plans.

Empowering Nurses and Nursing Students: A Cornerstone of Support

Statistics reveal that nurses and nursing students are the largest group of Biomedical Library users. Antonia Osuna-Garcia, a librarian at the Biomedical Library, dedicates a significant amount of time to supporting nursing students, especially during the busy fall season. She has met nearly every student who’s gone through UCLA’s bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. programs over her seven years on the job. Because students can access librarians in-person and online, Osuna-Garcia integrates the library into the nursing program curriculum, requiring students to use medical databases to answer clinical questions. The library's resources enable nurses to provide better care to patients in hospitals and clinics.

Expanding Research Horizons: Emerging Technologies and the Lux Lab

The Biomedical Library is also embracing emerging technologies to support research in innovative ways. Doug Daniels, an Emerging Technologies Librarian, creates 3D models for researchers across the UCLA campus through the Lux Lab. He and his team of student employees work with individuals who already hold advanced degrees, saving them the time and effort of learning new skills like 3D modeling. Connor Lim, a member of the Lux Lab, collaborated with a medical team to create a digital prototype using the library's 3D modeling software. Jacob Niles Creer, a clinical equipment specialist and member of the UCLA medical staff, found the experience eye-opening.

Accessing Online Resources: VPN and Other Tools

The Library's online subscription resources can be accessed from computers and wireless networks on campus. Off-campus access is restricted to current UCLA students, faculty, and staff who have set up their computer using a VPN. VPN software must be logged on manually before you access a restricted site, but works for all programs on your computer.

Streamlining Clinical Workflows: Mobile Applications and AI

UCLA Health provides a suite of mobile applications designed to streamline clinical workflows. Epic Haiku and Canto are handheld applications that focus on physicians review workflows. Haiku is designed for use with the Apple iPhone, iPod, iPad, as well as with Android smartphones. Canto is designed for use with the apple iPad. Haiku and Canto’s activities provide physicians with the detailed reports they need to make clinical decisions. The applications also offer physicians the ability to view, and in some cases interact with, specific clinical information. Epic Haiku allows for secure texting on mobile devices giving you additional flexibility when interacting with colleagues from a remote location. Video Visits provide a secure way for doctors to connect with their patients. Ambient Listening (Nabla) is an AI-powered ambient listening tool available in CareConnect and Haiku for UCLA Health Outpatient Physicians, designed to streamline clinical documentation by automatically generating medical notes from patient-provider conversations.

IT Support and Resources: A Centralized Hub

UCLA Health provides IT support and guidance through its IT Portal, a central place for support. The Technology Center for Genomics & Bioinformatics (TCGB) is a fully automated, high-throughput genomic Center equipped with all major next generation sequencing. The UCLA Neuroscience Genomics Core (UNGC) offers sequencing and array based expression, genotyping and methylation screening services in the Gonda research facility on the UCLA Westwood campus. The BSCRC High-Throughput Sequencing Core provides the UCLA research community with access to next-generation DNA sequencing technology. A collection of workshops and training related to research technologies used at UCLA.

Grant Support and Manuscript Preparation

DOMStat provides support for every stage of research projects, including grant proposal development and manuscript preparation. Our expert statisticians help ensure that your study is well-designed and your findings are presented clearly and accurately.

The Importance of Systematic Reviews

A systematic review is defined as a scientific investigation that focuses on a specific question and that uses explicit, planned scientific methods to identify, select, assess, and summarize the findings of similar but separate studies.

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