FDR_x (Federated Drug Reference) project as change agent

Abstract

Purpose

At the foundation of FDR_x was the drug formulary for UW Medicine published by the Drug Information Center. The DIC pharmacist had contracted with USPDI to receive the full text of its drug information electronically and reformat it into a print, pocket‐sized guide for distribution to clinicians. The goal of the FDR_x project was to add to this core and distribute an expanded drug reference as part of a clinical resource.

Design/methodology/approach

Librarians at the University of Washington Health Sciences Libraries collaborated with clinicians to create an electronic federated drug knowledge resource, FDR_x, to be used at the point of care.

Findings

Skills and experiences gained in previous projects, e.g. negotiating the licensure of campus‐wide access to bibliographic databases, project leadership, developing interfaces, instruction in the use of information resources, and IAIMS planning, easily transferred to the development of the FDR_x project. The most immediate outcome, FDR_x itself, had a short but successful lifespan, meeting the drug information needs of its users.

Originality/value

This partnership set the stage for future developments in the knowledge management arena at the University of Washington and changes in the roles of librarians.

Citation

Jankowski, T.A. and Ketchell, D.S. (2005), "FDR_x (Federated Drug Reference) project as change agent", Reference Services Review, Vol. 33 No. 1, pp. 7-11. https://doi.org/10.1108/00907320410519315