Huber JT et al. 2006 "Informing neighborhood health: a health information outreach project targeting community clinics."

Reference
Huber JT, Varman B. Informing neighborhood health: a health information outreach project targeting community clinics. J Consum Health Internet 2006;10(2):37-45.
Abstract
"The purpose of the Informing Neighborhood Health project is to facilitate access to electronic health information resources at select community faith-based clinics. The project partners Texas Woman's University, Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library, and five community faith-based clinics located in Houston, Texas that primarily serve the homeless and working poor. The clinics include San Jose Clinic, Good Neighbor Healthcare Center, Eastwood Health Clinic, the Children's Clinic at Northwest Assistance Ministries, and Bering Omega Community Services. The Informing Neighborhood Health project placed internet-connected workstations at each participating clinic. The project also provided training for select clinic staff members that focused on a variety of electronic health information resources. A post-training evaluation was administered at the end of each training session. In addition, site visits and interviews were conducted at each participating clinic once project workstations were operational and staff members had attended training sessions. A final project focus group was conducted with administrators from each participating clinic. Clinic staff members have incorporated use of project workstations into existing workflow processes and are using electronic information resources to make better informed health care decisions for their clients."
Objective
"To facilitate access to electronic health information resources at select community faith-based clinics."
Tools Used
Type Clinic
Primary care
Size
Small, medium and large
Geography
Urban and suburban
Other Information
The study included clinics in Harris County and the greater Houston, Texas area.
Type of Health IT
Informational resource
Type of Health IT Functions
The Web page included links to several online health resources, including the National Library of Medicine's Web-based resources such as PubMed and MedlinePlus. It also contained a section for providing feedback and a feature that allowed users to ask questions to the project staff. There was no restriction or password protection placed on this Web site, making it "accessible to the general public."
Workflow-Related Findings
The project workstations "were being used for reference and educational purposes. Despite time constraints due to heavy patient loads, clinic staff members indicated that they used project workstations to access electronic health information resources."
"When asked how the project workstations have been used, administrators indicated that the computers were being used to make informed health care decisions as well as for educational purposes where clients were concerned. For example, one administrator stated that the computers were being used for 'research by our medical staff and students to provide educational information to our clients.' "
Study Design
Story
Study Participants
The study participants included five clinics and 36 staff members.