VCU Libraries develops website for health care providers

Richmond-based Virginia Commonwealth University has developed a free website that offers up-to-date information for health care practitioners and educators in medically underserved areas.

VCU librarians organized the materials for the new website, “A Common Wealth of Public and Primary Care Information.” The information will support research, clinical practice, interdisciplinary training and continuing education.

“Now a health care provider in downtown Petersburg or rural Pulaski or on the water in Reedville on the Northern Neck has equal and easy access to important medical information,” Barbara Wright, research and education librarian and project manager with VCU Libraries said in a statement. “It's all free and reliable.”

Tompkins-McCaw Library and two of Virginia’s eight Area Health Education Center (AHEC) programs – the Capital and the Rappahannock Area Health Education Centers – collaborated on the development of the website.   

An advisory committee made up of VCU public health faculty members and public health and primary care professionals provided guidance for the project.

The librarians identified relevant public health and primary care subject areas and developed research guides highlighting resources on topics such as nutrition, maternal health and children’s health. They also searched free websites to find databases, journals, books and other information that may be relevant to the communities that providers serve.