TY - JOUR

T1 - A clinical librarian in a hospital critical care unit may generate a positive return on investment

AU - Hartfiel, Ned

AU - Sadera, Girendra

AU - Treadway, Victoria

AU - Lawrence, Catherine

AU - Edwards, Rhiannon Tudor

N1 - Health Education England Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

PY - 2021/6

Y1 - 2021/6

N2 - Background: Timely information provided by clinical librarians can contribute to outcomes such as improved patient care and time savings for hospital staff. What is unknown is the return on investment (ROI) of a clinical librarian on a critical care unit.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the ROI, from the employer perspective, of placing a clinical librarian in a critical care unit in a large UK acute hospital.Methods: Using a mixed methods approach, ROI was estimated by comparing the total costs with the total monetised benefits of implementing the clinical librarian intervention. Total costs included salary and equipment costs. Total monetised benefits included time saving for hospital staff, support for professional development and improved patient care.Results: When total monetised benefits were compared with total costs, the 15-month clinical librarian intervention generated a positive ROI of £1.18–£3.03 for every £1 invested.Discussion: Using outcome measures derived from previous research, this novel study generated promising results indicative for commissioners seeking to improve patient care and deliver value for money. To improve generalisability, multisite studies using standardised ROI tools are recommended.Conclusion: Employing a clinical librarian in a critical care unit can generate a positive ROI.

AB - Background: Timely information provided by clinical librarians can contribute to outcomes such as improved patient care and time savings for hospital staff. What is unknown is the return on investment (ROI) of a clinical librarian on a critical care unit.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the ROI, from the employer perspective, of placing a clinical librarian in a critical care unit in a large UK acute hospital.Methods: Using a mixed methods approach, ROI was estimated by comparing the total costs with the total monetised benefits of implementing the clinical librarian intervention. Total costs included salary and equipment costs. Total monetised benefits included time saving for hospital staff, support for professional development and improved patient care.Results: When total monetised benefits were compared with total costs, the 15-month clinical librarian intervention generated a positive ROI of £1.18–£3.03 for every £1 invested.Discussion: Using outcome measures derived from previous research, this novel study generated promising results indicative for commissioners seeking to improve patient care and deliver value for money. To improve generalisability, multisite studies using standardised ROI tools are recommended.Conclusion: Employing a clinical librarian in a critical care unit can generate a positive ROI.

KW - National Health Service(NHS)

KW - based practice

KW - clinical

KW - consultants

KW - costs and cost analysis

KW - evidence&#8208

KW - information services

KW - knowledge transfer

KW - knowledge translation

KW - librarians

KW - library and information professionals

KW - nurses

U2 - 10.1111/hir.12332

DO - 10.1111/hir.12332

M3 - Article

VL - 38

SP - 97

EP - 112

JO - Health Information and Libraries Journal

JF - Health Information and Libraries Journal

SN - 1471-1842

IS - 2

ER -