Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation, Bangor University, Bangor, UK.
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birkenhead, UK.
Health Info Libr J. 2021 Jun;38(2):97-112. doi: 10.1111/hir.12332. Epub 2020 Nov 16.
Timely information provided by clinical librarians can contribute to outcomes such as improved patient care and time savings for hospital staff. What is unknown is the return on investment (ROI) of a clinical librarian on a critical care unit.
The aim of this study was to assess the ROI, from the employer perspective, of placing a clinical librarian in a critical care unit in a large UK acute hospital.
Using a mixed methods approach, ROI was estimated by comparing the total costs with the total monetised benefits of implementing the clinical librarian intervention. Total costs included salary and equipment costs. Total monetised benefits included time saving for hospital staff, support for professional development and improved patient care.
When total monetised benefits were compared with total costs, the 15-month clinical librarian intervention generated a positive ROI of £1.18-£3.03 for every £1 invested.
Using outcome measures derived from previous research, this novel study generated promising results indicative for commissioners seeking to improve patient care and deliver value for money. To improve generalisability, multisite studies using standardised ROI tools are recommended.
Employing a clinical librarian in a critical care unit can generate a positive ROI.
临床图书馆员提供的及时信息有助于改善患者护理和医院工作人员的时间节省等结果。但目前尚不清楚在重症监护病房配备临床图书馆员的投资回报率（ROI）。
本研究旨在从雇主的角度评估在英国一家大型急性医院的重症监护病房中配备临床图书馆员的 ROI。
采用混合方法，通过比较实施临床图书馆员干预措施的总成本和总货币化效益来估算 ROI。总成本包括工资和设备成本。总货币化效益包括为医院工作人员节省的时间、对专业发展的支持和改善的患者护理。
当总货币化效益与总成本进行比较时，15 个月的临床图书馆员干预措施产生了每投资 1 英镑可获得 1.18-3.03 英镑的正 ROI。
本研究使用源自先前研究的结果指标，产生了有希望的结果，可为寻求改善患者护理和提供物有所值的决策者提供参考。为了提高通用性，建议使用标准化 ROI 工具进行多站点研究。
在重症监护病房中配备临床图书馆员可以产生积极的 ROI。
