NHS Knowledge Management in Bradford: the evolution of a service to meet the demands of healthcare professionals
| Date | 01 April 2000 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb040772 |
| Pages | 24-30 |
| Published date | 01 April 2000 |
| Author | Kim White |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
NHS Knowledge
Management in
Bradford:
the evolution of a
service to meet the
demands of
healthcare
professionals
by Kim White, Corporate Intelligence
and Library Services Manager,
Bradford Health Authority
Knowledge management and library services
are intertwined now to the extent that
it
is
inconceivable that there could
not
be
a
partnership between
them.
This article looks
at
a specific
example.
Introduction
As the concept of knowledge management be-
comes more widespread, many library services are
adapting the way they deal with information and
how they distribute it to their users. There are
probably as many different approaches as there are
Health Authority librarians in the country. As one
of
the
earliest to be appointed, I describe here the
way in which I have dealt with this particular
challenge.
History/background
While working as the Assistant Librarian in the
Medical Library at Bradford Royal Infirmary, I
was approached by Bradford Health Authority and
asked to "sort out the library". I started working
just four hours a week, sorting out the pile of
boxes that then constituted the library, the result
of relocation for the organisation. Over the last
four years, I have built up the service, now work-
ing a 30-hour week and employing a Support
Assistant (18.5 hours). The service we provide is
very proactive and relies heavily on electronic
resources. It supports the core business of the
Health Authority and is available to all healthcare
professionals in the district.
Detailed below are the key functions that make up
the service and how collaborative working and
linking into existing resources enables me to
deliver a proactive, timely and accurate service to a
wide range of user groups.
Knowledge Management
definitions
Knowledge management is one of the newest
concepts or "buzzwords" affecting information/
library services. It appears to have a different
definition for each day of the week, depending on
whom you ask. Of the many definitions I have
read, the following two seem to sum up my under-
standing of the concept.
Gail Rogers describes knowledge as a mixture of
"know-what", "know-how", "know-who" and
"know-why" and knowledge management as the
"concerted effort to capture, organise and share
what people know, making it easily available
anywhere, anytime, with the aim of applying it to
improve organisational performance" (Rogers,
2000).
Alison Price describes knowledge management as
"the art of making creative, effective and efficient
use of all the knowledge and information available
to an organisation - for the benefit of clients"
(Price, 2000).
My own definition would also include the word
awareness. I think you need an awareness of all
possible resources (but not necessarily expertise in
them) to feel confident that, when you provide an
answer to a specific enquiry, you are delivering the
most complete answer possible.
Populations served
The service is principally for Health Authority
staff.
Currently, it also serves the four Primary
Care Group Boards (all of which will be Primary
24 — VINE 121
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