Medical information -- when limited acess can have life changing consequences

There is no subject where information being current, accurate and thoroughly validated is as critical as it is with medical information. Health professionals including Physicians Assistants, social workers, nurses, dieticians, psychologists and others often work independently, without access to a hospital or academic library. Nowhere is there a group of users who, as librarians, should concern us more. For many, their only access to the journal literature may be through their public libraries. Consumers of health information -- which is all of us -- want the best and most complete information when dealing with health and medical issues. They may or may not want to look at scholarly research materials -- but, if they do, they should be able to.