TA29

Camp for all connection*_{*Funded in part by NLM Contract No. N01-LM-1-3515}

Jeffrey T. Huber, Associate Professor, School of Library and Information Studies, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX ; Teresa J. Walsh, Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX ; Beatriz Varman, Assistant Director, Public Services, Reference, Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library, Houston, TX ;

Objective: The overall goal of this outreach project was to facilitate access to electronic health information in the health center located in the main lodge of the Camp For All camp facility.
Methods: Camp For All provides barrier free camp experiences for children and adults with chronic illnesses and disabilities. The camp facility is located on 206 acres in Burton, Texas. Each camp session is required to include a health care provider as well as appropriate camp staff. Prior to this project, however, health care providers did not have access to the Internet. For the Camp For All Connection project, three Internet-connected workstations were placed in three distinct areas within the health center in the main lodge of the Camp For All camp facility. A project Web page was developed to facilitate access to relevant electronic health information resources. Training on use of electronic health information resources was provided to senior camp staff and senior summer camp counselors. These individuals in turn acted as trainers for health care providers and remaining summer camp counselors. Site visits and group interviews were conducted throughout the project's duration to evaluate its effectiveness.
Results: Project workstations were used throughout the course of the project. Camp staff observed project workstations being used for reference purposes as well. For example, a contract nurse hired to staff the muscular dystrophy camp who was not familiar with muscular dystrophy used the medical dictionary in MedlinePlus to look up terms. Physicians used dermatology images to verify conditions not typically seen in the hospital setting such as bee stings. Pharmacists used drug resources to verify drug interactions and drug levels.
Conclusions: The project has proven so popular that project staff have been invited to participate in Camp For All's spring orientation. This orientation session is attended by representatives from every summer camp. Being included in the orientation will allow project staff to describe Camp For All Connection resources firsthand prior to the beginning of the summer camp season.

Jeffrey T. Huber, PhD, is Associate Professor in the School of Library and Information Studies, Texas Woman's University, and Associate Director for Research in the Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library.  Huber has more than 15 years experience in health sciences librarianship, including developing and implementing successful health information outreach projects targeting underserved populations.
Teresa Walsh, PhD, RNC is Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University teaching Community Health Nursing. Clinical practice interests focus on facilitating access to healthcare resources in the community and online information access.
Beariz Varman, MLIS, is Assistant Director for Public Affairs in the Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library.  She has more than 18 years experience conducting demonstration and training sessions regarding information resources and providing reference services.