 |
On March 1, 1999, in response
to feedback the hospital received from the public, the
Blum Patient and Family Learning Center opened as the
consumer health library of The Massachusetts General Hospital.
A consumer health library provides the public accurate
and reliable medical/health information in lay people's
language.
In the early 1990's, Senior Vice President, Chief Nurse
Jeanette Ives Erickson worked with the Development Office
in locating donors to create such a learning environment.
Maxwell and Eleanor Blum became founding donors, and the
Ladies
Visiting Committee of the Massachusetts General
Hospital became contributing sponsors.
A project plan set up a Steering or oversight committee
that reviewed the work of five teams: Content, Marketing,
Information Systems, Operations, and Construction which
worked under the leadership of the Center's first Director,
Sally Millar. The teams completed their work in just
eight months.
The former Trustees Room on the Main Corridor of the
White Building, near the main entrance was chosen as
the location of the Blum Patient and Family Learning
Center. This prominent location underscored the commitment,
by Massachusetts General Hospital, of the importance
of providing health information to the public. The space
was converted into use for a state-of-the-art library.
Rich, warm woods combine with greens, and other earth
tones to enhance a relaxing and soothing environment
conducive to learning and thinking.
In the short years of its existence, the daily use
of the Blum Patient and Family Learning Center has more
than doubled, justifying the vision that a consumer
health library at Massachusetts General Hospital was
necessary.
Under the leadership of the manager, Taryn Pittman, RN, MSN, the Blum Patient and Family Learning Center
is undertaking strategic planning to prepare for the
future. A host of new initiatives will keep the Center
at the forefront of providing consumer health information
and patient education.
|
