Introduction: Studies have shown that as many as 15-20 questions per day can go unanswered as a clinician is seeing patients either due to lack of time or expertise in finding literature. The clinical librarians at the Eccles Health Sciences Library at the University of Utah aimed to address this issue by partnering with the Neurology Consult Service to join clinical rounds in order to provide evidence for any clinical questions that arise around patient care, diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, and standards.

Description: The clinical librarians join table rounds as well as bedside rounds 2-3 times per week in the main hospital, rehabilitation hospital, and cancer hospital. They send an email with search strategies, a summary of the evidence, and relevant full text articles to the entire rounding team consisting of attendings, residents, and medical students.

Results/outcomes: The librarians saw immediate success with over 150 questions answered during the first year of the service and created a searchable repository in a secured shared site so dissemination can reach the entire Neurology department. Clinical staff have added quotes and citations directly into the patient chart notes. Librarians analyzed the clinical questions for themes and duplicates in order to uncover knowledge gaps.

Discussion: Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and the responses have helped fulfill the institution’s mission of advancing knowledge and well-being. The librarians were invited to present at Neurology Grand Rounds on the knowledge gap analysis as well as the overall rounding experience. The librarians hope the analysis can lead to changes in the curriculum.