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(Office: 443-849-2126/Cell: 410-258-3465)

GBMC Breaks Ground For New Medical &
Consumer Health Library

BALTIMORE – October 31, 2005 – Physicians and healthcare consumers will soon have a new state-of-the-art resource to turn to for the latest in medical information, news and research when the Greater Baltimore Medical Center opens its new medical library and community resource center.

“This new facility will cater both to the advanced research needs of healthcare professionals and offer a place for today’s healthcare consumer to find authoritative and up-to-date medical information,” said Deborah Thomas, GBMC’s director of library and consumer information, noting a recent Pew/Internet & American Life Project study showed that 80 percent of Internet users have looked online for health information.

Scheduled to open in early summer 2006, the 3,000 square-foot Middendorf Consumer Resource Library/ John E. Savage Medical Library will sit in a prominent and easily accessible location off of the hospital’s main lobby.  The addition replaces the current facility, which is inadequate because of its small size and location in a renovated parking garage area on the hospital’s first floor.

A luncheon commemorating the project is being held Tuesday, Nov. 1, 12-2 p.m., with a “shovel” groundbreaking slated for approximately 1:30 p.m.  The Middendorf Foundation, a Baltimore-based foundation, contributed $500,000 to the project and Verizon Communications donated $75,000 to be used toward technology equipment.  Additional funds are being provided from GBMC Healthcare.

“This new facility will offer access to the latest medical knowledge for physicians, residents, nurses, other staff and visitors, and will serve as a strong focal point for community members interested in researching general healthcare information,” said Timothy Doran, M.D., GBMC’s chairman of pediatrics and chairman of the hospital’s Library & CME Advisory Committee.

Medical staff will be able to take advantage of 12 computers, a reading room offering natural light, a group study room, and a more central location on the hospital campus.  Three computers, collections of informational books, brochures and videos, and a support group room are available for the public.

In Fiscal Year 2005, GBMC’s medical library purchased more than 150 textbooks and videos, renewed more than 175 journals and magazines and added electronic database access to several publications.  Its databases continue to be used extensively by physicians, with more than 80,000 searches logged, and more than 1,700 articles delivered to physicians.  Library staff also supervises some of the hospital’s support groups, lectures, and education classes.

GBMC has retained the Baltimore-based firms of CSD People Architecture and Shade Construction for this project.

Editor’s Note: A rendering of the Middendorf Consumer Resource Library/ John E. Savage Medical Library is available in PDF or JPEG format upon request.

About GBMC
GBMC includes Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC), Central Maryland’s leading community hospital; Hospice of Baltimore, which provides comfort and care to patients with life-limiting illnesses; the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Community Health Center, which offers comprehensive health and family services to the residents of East Baltimore; and the GBMC Foundation, which supports the GBMC mission by managing fundraising efforts.  The 300-bed Medical Center, located on a beautiful suburban campus, serves nearly 22,000 inpatients annually and provides approximately 50,000 emergency room visits. For more information, go to www.gbmc.org. 

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