The Scarborough Grace Hospital Wellness Institute is doing a literature
search to review the setting up of a Consumer Health Info Service. We would
value opinions from members of the list on any of the following questions.
These topics should provide some insight into issues that need to be pursued
in our upcoming needs assessment:

1. What are the advantages/disadvantages of setting up a phone service vs.
walk-in service?

2. What must be considered when setting up a CHI phone service?
        -staffing, equipment and resources, multilingual messages, cost of a
1-800 line

3. What difficulties are posed by certain collection categories? How have
these difficulties been dealt with by other CHIS? (i.e. will the collection
reflect consumers; or the hospital's interests?)

4. What are the current trends in medical consumerism?
        -what kinds of information do consumers want to know?
        -where do consumers seek information?
        -from whom do they seek information?
        -what format/presentation do they prefer (e.g books, pamphlets,
media, videos?)
        -what are the main reasons why consumers seek information (e.g.
personal health, research project, as a provider of health care for family)?

5. How have other successful CHIS been managed/organized?
        -what are other examples of CHIS? (e.g. the Planetree Health
Resource Center in San Francisco)

6. What is the best layout, size and design for a CHIS?
        -how much room is required for book shelves, computer terminals,
filing cabinets?
        -how can you make the CHIS accessible to those with disabilities?
        -what makes the centre inviting to people of various backgrounds?

7. Is it better to have the CHIS on-site or off-site?
        -if on-site, are there locations within the hospital that may be
better than others?
        -if off-site are there locations that may be better than others
within the community?