Beyond the Books: A Wisconsin Librarian’s Unique Approach to Sharing ABIDE Values

 

Michele Matucheski, MLS, AHIP

Ascension WI Librarian

Michele Matucheski, a Librarian for Ascension Wisconsin, wants to help associates learn about different groups in hopes of decreasing disparities in healthcare. 

Michele, the 2023 Wisconsin Health Science Library Association Librarian of the Year, sees reading as central to this work.

“[Reading] is the closest thing you can get to being in someone else's shoes,” Michele said. “Reading can open a whole new world of understanding and empathy for someone. Imagining interactions with people from other groups can help enhance understanding, which in turn can decrease prejudice and negative responses toward those groups.”

Michele has displayed a collection of books that highlight the ABIDE framework in the window of the library at Ascension Mercy Hospital  in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She also writes a blog to help associates learn more about diversity and equity in relation to patient interactions. Michele publishes five to ten articles each month. 

One blog post highlighted  “The Legacy of Freedom House: The Black Men who became America’s First Paramedics.” She included video resources and recorded zoom conversations in addition to book recommendations for associates to learn more. 

More recently, she highlighted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention health equity video series. 

Michele said she believes deeper understanding of patients’ perspectives can help physicians and providers to offer more compassionate care. 

“It can also help them understand why a patient won't follow their medical advice,” Michele said. “Maybe they can’t afford it or it gives them a nasty side effect. If the provider can understand where the person is coming from, then they can have a conversation about how they can make it better.”

'Go Deeper" Team Reflection Questions

1. How has a book or movie allowed you to better understand someone whose life experience differs greatly from your own? 

2. How can that deeper understanding impact everyday interactions at work? 

Read more on Good Day Ascension's ABIDE microsite  ...  and watch a short video of Michele.

A - Appreciation

B - Belonging

I - Inclusion

D - Diversity

E - Equity

How to Spot Disinformation and Fake News

The media is filled with misleading ads and stories--especially during election season.  

Don't be fooled!

• Consider the source: click away from the story to investigate the site, its mission, and its contact information
• Read Beyond: Headlines can be outrageous in an effort to get clicks. What's the whole story?
• Check the author: do a quick search on the author. Are they credible? Are they real?
• Supporting sources:click on those links. Determine if the information given actually supports the story.
• Check the date: reposting old news stories doesn't mean they are relevant to current events.
• It is a joke? if it is too outlandish, it might be satire. Research the site and author to be sure.
• Check your biases: consider if your own beliefs could affect your judgement
• Ask the Experts- ask a librarian, or consult a fact checking web site

How to Spot Fake News - by FactCheck.org

See Also: 

     Evaluating Sources with the CRAAP Test

Brought to you by Ascension Wisconsin Library Services.

October is National Medical Librarians Month - 2024

Your Ascension Wisconsin Medical Librarians work tirelessly to support healthcare providers, nurses, rehab professionals,  researchers, and patients for evidence-based medical knowledge. 

The month of October is recognized as National Medical Librarian Month (NMLM) to celebrate and highlight these dedicated professionals and their achievements.

Behind the scenes of healthcare and hospitals, Medical Librarians play a pivotal role in facilitating research and quality health information.   

Do you need help with

• Expert searching
• Information management
• Instruction & training
• Access to evidence-based resources

Ascension Wisconsin Library Services

Your Medical Librarians:

 Michele Matucheski    &    Kellee Selden

AW Library Newsletter - September 2024

Ascension Wisconsin Librarians support your health care decisions with evidence-based research and full text resources.    

Contact us for research, articles, training, or online access.   

Just ask!

• The easiest way to find AW Library Services is to Google "Ascension Wisconsin Library."    

Catch up on the latest news from Ascension Wisconsin Library Services:

Q: How do I access Krames Patient Ed. Handouts outside of EPIC?

Q: I don't see the "Big 3" box on the AW library home page with DynaMed, Lexicomp, and NRC Plus. Where did they go, and how do I get them back?

Nurses Choice Recommended Reading - September 2024

The AI scams infiltrating the knitting and crochet world - and why it matters for everyone

Art in Medicine: Modern Pilgrimage & Health

Read the August 2024 Newsletter.  

• The old LibGuide pages are gone, so be sure to update your bookmarks and favorites to the NEW AW Library Website:  https://ascensionwi17.tdnetdiscover.com/
• Getting to AW Library Services via Good Day Ascension
• Where to find AW Library Resources in EPIC
• AW Library Services Flier - General Overview

Questions, comments, or search requests,

contact Your Ascension Wisconsin Librarians:

 Michele Matucheski   &   Kellee Selden

 Use the Request Form if you need research or articles.

Our AW Library website is available 24/7.

Nurses Choice Recommended Reading - September 2024

In Recommended Reading for Nurses, we offer access to the hottest topics in nursing and healthcare, as well as other “must-read” content.

Insights to guide infusion therapy during future emergencies and pandemics Nursing Management, September 2024 Improving access and outcomes for children with ADHD The Nurse Practitioner, September 2024   Supporting mental health well-being in the most vulnerable future nurses Nursing Education Perspectives, September/October 2024 Original Research: Exploring Nurses' Use of Humor in the Workplace: A Thematic Analysis American Journal of Nursing, September 2024 Risk Factors Related to the Development of Full-thickness Pressure Injuries in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients Advances in Skin & Wound Care, September 2024 Essential Review of Oncological Emergencies Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, July/September 2024 Reporting on Neurological Decline as Identified by Hourly Neuroassessments Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, August 2024 Care of the Patient With an Artificial Airway Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, July/August 2024 Privacy-Preserving Cameras for Fall Detection: Data Acquisition for Artificial Intelligence CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, July 2024 Support over comfort: Inspiring confidence in Gen Z nursing students Nursing Made Incredibly Easy!, July/August 2024 Ascension Wisconsin Library Services * Questions about access, contact your Ascension Wisconsin Librarians:   Michele Matucheski        Kellee Selden

Q: How do I access Krames Patient Ed. Handouts outside of EPIC?

 Answer:  Yes, Krames Patient Handouts are available outside of EPIC.

Go to the AW Intranet and click on the Applications Tab.

On the Applications landing page, use the search box on the right side to search for "Krames" [blue box].

     >  When the search utility locates it, Krames will display on the left side of the page. [Red box]

When you click on the Krames link, you will see the following:

Ignore the Manage Your Folders page, as this appears to be an admin function.  

Instead,

Click on the BROWSE Tab [Red box]  in the top navigation bar

OR use the search box at the top of the page to search all the available Krames patient handouts.

The AI scams infiltrating the knitting and crochet world - and why it matters for everyone

This is a fascinating and understandable look at how AI impacts some unexpected realms.  

I'm sure there are at least some Ascension WI associates who are also knitters, esp. now that 

sweater weather is back.

Read the rest of the article on ZDNet.

Here's the maker video the author above cites which is also very illuminating:

For those who don't readily understand (or care about) how AI will impact all of us -- 

and not just at work, this video illustrates the point with a knitting / crochet example.  

Some of what AI does might look good and convincing, but a subject matter expert 

can spot the fakes.   And she shows you how you can, too. 

If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.  Think about how that might translate 

to more technical / medical situations -- and what AI could get wrong.

Art in Medicine: Modern Pilgrimage & Health

 

'Lourdes"

Mario Giacomelli, 1957 CE  

Source: The Getty Museum Collection

The September 2024 Art In Medicine topic is about medical pilgrimages.

Lucinda Bennett, the Medical Librarian at Ascension St Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, MD,  publishes a regular series on Art in Medicine and The Health Humanities.    

It's only 1-2 pages with gorgeous images, so it won't take you long to read

... and just might enrich your life.

When you hear the word pilgrimage, what comes to mind? If you are literary minded, perhaps the Canterbury Tales wherein a group of humorous pilgrims make their way to England’s most famous holy site. Or, if you are a student of history, perhaps the road to Santiago. However, such travels are not wholly a thing of the past, and many modern pilgrims make the journey for the health of their body, not just their soul.  However, let us review the origin of the modern pilgrim, with its roots in the European Medieval period.  

“Although religion in the Middle Ages was much more nuanced than modern popular culture might imply, Christianity was a pivotal part of medieval society in Europe, and people’s everyday lives were saturated with it, from the way time was measured to the meals they ate. For medieval people, faith was more than just an abstract idea, it was tangible in the works they made (such as the great cathedrals) to glorify God, and the relics they could see with their own eyes. An integral part of this tangible form of faith was the pilgrimage: a spiritual journey to visit a holy site. Penitents would also undertake pilgrimages in order to gain forgiveness for their sins, or to shorten time in purgatory for themselves or for others. When he was dying, Henry the Young King (son of Henry II) asked William Marshal to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in his place in remembrance of his sins in life (Marshal did so). Sometimes, people went on pilgrimages to pray for fertility or safe delivery, too. Basically, as a pilgrimage was a journey of faith, anything a person felt they needed God’s help for could be motivation for the journey.” (Medievalists.Net) 

Centuries later, the practice of pilgrimage was by no means extinct, although its practitioners became less common as Christianity shifted and changed with various reformations and schisms. Unlike the travelers of the past, by the 20th century photography was well developed as a means of documenting pleasure and penitent trips alike. In the biography supplied by the Getty Museum, Mario Giacomelli (1925-2000) is known as one of the most notable Italian photographers of his generation. Although he grew up poor, he began his trade in typography and printing, was a self-taught painter and poet, and served in WWII. His engagement with photography was directly related to healthcare as a resident at the hospice center where his mother was admitted bestowed him with some funds, which he used to open his own studio. This relationship with health concerns can be seen in his series of photographs simply titled “Lourdes.”  

“...the series Lourdes depicts people living with illness, injury, or disability who are in search of miraculous healing.  Giacomelli received a commission to photograph at this Catholic pilgrimage site in southern France in 1957.

Tremendously pained by what he saw, he shot just a few rolls of film, returned the fee that had been advanced, and did not show anyone the images for some time. He traveled to Lourdes again in 1966, with his wife and second child. This time he, too, was in search of a cure, for their son, who had lost the ability to speak following an accident.” (The Getty Museum Collection) Modern pilgrimage provides an unusual opportunity to document those who participated in the journey, as well as the practices performed during and at the end of the road. As such, the message of those images would be up for new interpretation in comparison to images made during the Middle Ages. What was the meaning of the journey, how was the pilgrim feeling as they progressed? How does faith impact our reading of these images? “Spirituality can be defined as a relation to the transcendent, while religion is a system of beliefs often institutionalized which are related to a certain degree of commitment (Dent, 2020). This distinction means that modern pilgrims are seeking a more subjective, less institutionalized spirituality than traditional pilgrims used to seek (Mikaelson, 2012)...Lopez et al.  (2017) found the attractive features of the Camino for the modern pilgrim to be 

1. the natural landscape
2. the slow mobility that facilitates introspection
3. the authentic experience of experiencing different sensations
4. multicultural and religious dressed as a pilgrim, setting off on his pilgrimage encounters and
5. monumentalizing, meaning sacred objects and values British Library Egerton that are visual cues on the way.” (Walking for well-being)

“Medieval pilgrimage” detail of miniature showing the Lover, dressed as a pilgrim, setting off on his pilgrimage.  British Library Egerton   Source: Medievalists.Net 

Social media is a recent phenomenon which allows the sharing of vacations, life experiences and all manner of events. The ease of access of photos taken along the pilgrimage, shared in the form of written articles, perfectly combines the revival of the pilgrimage, health concerns, and the spread of modern imagery. “This is their second time on the trail...When I ask why, their answers are beatifically banal. It’s “nice” and “Spain is beautiful.” Coming from East Germany, they grew up without religion, and haven’t obtained any since...They explain that, the previous year, they’d made the pilgrimage on behalf of a friend with multiple sclerosis. They’d carried a rock for him, and on the exact day when they placed the rock before a cross on the trail, their friend had received news of a novel therapy, which they say has since enabled him to walk again. “It’s a miracle!” I practically shout, finding myself strangely eager to believe. “Yes, it was,” they reply, factually.” (What it means to go on a modern pilgrimage)

References:
The Getty Museum Collection
Walking for well-being: Exploring the phenomenology of modern pilgrimage
What It Means to Go on a Modern Pilgrimage
Medieval Pilgrimages: It’s All About the Journey

Reprinted with the generous permission of Ms. Bennett.

Q: I don't see the "Big 3" box on the AW library home page with DynaMed, Lexicomp, and NRC Plus. Where did they go, and how do I get them back?

Answer: Usually authentication for Library resources happens unobtrusively behind the scenes, which means if you are working at an Ascension WI worksite, you will automatically be able to use the library resources with no fuss or bother, or extra logins.  That said, there are times and certain physical work sites that seem to fall through the cracks.  Fortunately, we have a workaround!

If you do NOT see the "Big 3" box on the library home page with DynaMed, Lexicomp, and Nursing Reference Center Plus, you might not be recognized as an Ascension WI person, or coming from an Ascension WI work site.  

In this case, you can use OpenAthens for remote access.  This works best if you have an Ascension email.

On the AW Library homepage, you should see a log in on the right side [See above, highlighted in yellow].

Then on the LEFT side, click on Connect [highlighted in yellow.]

Then use your Ascension network email and your usual network password to sign in safely and securely.  This is similar to signing into to PolicyStat or other online resources with Active Directory.

This should let the system recognize you, and know that you have rightful access to Lexicomp and DynaMed and NRC Plus.   

Once you are logged in, you should see your name in the upper right corner, and the "Big 3" box should once again be visible on the left side.

If you have continuing problems with access to AW  library resources, contact your Ascension Wisconsin Librarians for help:

Questions, comments, or search requests,

contact Your Ascension Wisconsin Librarians:

 Michele Matucheski   &   Kellee Selden

 Use the Request Form if you need research or articles.

AW Library Newsletter - August 2024

Ascension Wisconsin Librarians support your health care decisions with evidence-based research and full text resources.    

Contact us for research, articles, training, or online access.   

Just ask!

• The easiest way to find AW Library Services is to Google "Ascension Wisconsin Library."    

Catch up on the latest news from Ascension Wisconsin Library Services:

Ascension Wisconsin Library Services - Overview

Q: Do we have access to ACOG Practice Bulletins?  A: Yes!

Clinical Key Content Updates for June and July 2024

Nurses Choice Recommended Reading - August 2024

National Immunization Awareness Month

CDC Health Equity Video Series

Art in Medicine: Medicine & Fairy Tales

Read the July 2024 Newsletter.  

• The old LibGuide pages are gone, so be sure to update your bookmarks and favorites to the NEW AW Library Website:  https://ascensionwi17.tdnetdiscover.com/
• Getting to AW Library Services via Good Day Ascension
• Where to find AW Library Resources in EPIC
• AW Library Services Flier - General Overview

Questions, comments, or search requests,

contact Your Ascension Wisconsin Librarians:

 Michele Matucheski   &   Kellee Selden

 Use the Request Form if you need research or articles.

Our AW Library website is available 24/7.