Summary: AOA Accreditation

*All:*
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*I have been asked to summarize the responses I received about librarians'
experiences with AOA accreditation, so here they are:*
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*1.  *
*A surveyor did come to the library and he asked a lot of questions (fairly
easy though, I was able to answer them with my limited knowledge).  We have
three campuses, so he asked me to show him how someone could access our
databases and subscriptions from the other two (they are bookmarked on the
other library computers).  He also asked me to show him how I did a search.
It was very much a calm happening--our surveyor was really nice and had a
personal interest in libraries, so I'm no expert on if this is the common
practice.  He also asked about the library committee but all he wanted was
the list of members.*
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*2.*
*Basically the AOA is concerned with these points:*
*--Interns, residents, and house staff have 24/7 access to the library and
its resources.*
*--Current texts are available and a basic current print journal collection
is available.*
*--Interlibrary loan is available.*
*--The Library is staffed with a library professional.  (MLA is working to
get this wording changed to "degreed professional').*
*--Electronic full-text medical databases are available.*
*--A library committee is in place and some evidence should exist as to
their meetings and minutes.  (My committee meets by e-mail, and this has
passed inspection.  I simply keep copies of their responses to my questions
and suggestions).*
*--A basic print collection should exist of osteopathic literature.*
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*3.*
*Our hospital went through an AOA accreditation inspection two years ago and
is expecting one next Fall.  The inspectors did indeed come to the library -
usually the physician, I think, who comes.  He was mainly interested in
online resources available to patrons, access after hours, and the library
committee.  Mainly it was about online resources.  He did ask my
qualifications too.*
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*4.*
*We had our first HFAP survey in April 2005.  I have the Medical Staff
Services area Medical Library.  Our library was surveyed and toured.  We
went through each standard and together to attach all documents or
information per standard.*
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*5.*
*Yes, the AOA surveyor did ask about a library committee.  But we don't have
one and it didn't make a difference.  They were very pleased with the
library on their tour.  Also they asked on the floors about use of the
library.  They even mentioned in their summary the great library the
hospital had.  So it was a rather Wow experience.*
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*6.*
*My hospital, recently, had an AOA inspection.  One of the physicians
visited the library and asked questions that were easy to answer.  He was
concerned about internet access.  He, also, wanted to make sure that the
library was available 24/7.  Our inspection went well.*
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*These are the responses I received and they are all pretty much verbatim.
*
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*We think we will be surveyed by the AOA in March or April and I will give a
survey report on MEDLIB-L after the survey.*
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*Susan Leik, M.S.L.S., AHIP*
*Health Sciences Library*
*Colquitt Regional Medical Center*
*P. O. Box 40*
*Moultrie, GA  31776*
*Tel:  229-890-3460*

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