By Elizabeth Cloutman
New names better reflect scope of services
Beginning Nov. 1, the Older Adult Resource Center and its library will have new names. They will be known as the Health Resource Center and the Health Library. While the center and its library will continue to be open to the general public and remain affiliated with El Camino Hospital, the staffs believe the new names are more reflective of the services they provide.
Librarian Mary Mende said she is pleased by the name change because she believes the name Health Library is much more descriptive of the broad range of medical information the library provides.
“If you have questions about (medical) treatment, this is where you come,” Mende said. “The old name is misleading. Lots of people, when they hear ‘older adult,’ they think (the library) is only for seniors. We hope by naming it the Health Library, we can make the connection to a broader health group. I think it’s a very positive move. This information is so critical.”
Mende said the library’s collection includes books, videos, audiocassettes, magazines and pamphlets on a variety of subjects, such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, depression, as well as caregiving and aging. “We like to think of ourselves as an extension of the public libraries,” she noted. “They can’t zero in on just their health or consumer health sections. I hope to meet with public librarians soon to let them know what we offer to the community. We also hope to inform physicians, so they will refer their patients here.”
Another Health Library resource with which she is particularly pleased is Well-Connected, a collection of reports that provide up-to-date, concise, yet comprehensive information about common medical problems and their prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment.
The bound reports are in alphabetical order, with an index for cross-reference. The library’s subscription to Well-Connected permits it to make copies of these reports for patrons for 10 cents per page. Mende and her four volunteers also help patrons conduct Internet and magazine searches for information.
The Health Library has a partnership with the El Camino Hospital Medical Library, open to the public, and the hospital’s medical staff. Mende said Bijan Esfahani, the Medical Library’s librarian, can assist patrons to locate detailed medical information.
Mende said she hopes people will become more aware of the many programs the Health Resource Center provides: Medicare and health insurance counseling, support groups, the Distinguished Speakers series, wellness programs, preparing advance care directives, the Roadrunners transportation service, the Lifeline medical alert system, and eldercare counseling for older adults and families facing changes in living situations. “It isn’t just medical information. It’s community information,” she said.
While the Health Library’s resources are available free when used in the library, patrons are required to pay a $15 annual fee to check out materials. For $35, one can become a Friend of the Health Resource Center. Benefits of joining the Health Resource Center include free attendance at all seminars, free Health Library checkout privileges, free one-time consultation with a dietitian and pharmacist, a one-time discount on eldercare consultation, a free Vial of Life (provides medical information in case of an emergency) and advance notice of upcoming events.
Advance directive and insurance counseling as well as blood pressure screenings will continue to be free of charge to anyone in the community.
The Health Resource Center and Health Library are located directly behind El Camino Hospital in La Casa Real, 2400 Hospital Drive, Mountain View. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call 988-7622 or e-mail healthlib@elcaminohospital.org.
