Karen Crowell, M.L.I.S.  

Available for consultations, in my office or yours:

Monday 9 - 5

Tuesday 1 - 5

Wednesday 10 - 5

Thursday 9 - 5

Friday 9 - 4

Call to schedule an appointment, or use Ask a Librarian to submit a request.

We are here to help!

Email
FAQ
One-on-One Consultation 
Classes
Phone  919 - 962 - 0800
Text/SMS  919 - 584 - 5931

Education

BA, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL
MLIS, School of Library and Information Science, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

Background

Karen worked in hospital settings (inventory and materials management) for nearly fifteen years before she earned a graduate degree in Library and Information Science. She has used that experience to her advantage in her career as a library information professional. A jointly-funded UNC School of Information Sciences/National Llibrary of Medicine fellowship in medical informatics at the UNC Health Sciences Library gave her the opportunity to research the use of mobile technology in health care and learn more about information systems and applications in the clinical environment. 

Current Position

Karen serves as the library's liaison to clinical departments in the UNC School of Medicine and the UNC Health Care System.  She attends case conferences and performs literature searches in support of patient care for attendings, fellows, residents, medical students and staff in Internal Medicine, the Gastrointestinal, Surgical Oncology, and Urological divisions of the department of Surgery, and the Infectious Diseases division of Medicine. She is a contributing editor to the Evidence Based Practice Education Center of Excellence, and a co-author of Clinical Inquiries published in the Journal of Family Practice as a Family Practice Inquiries Network librarian. She and other librarians also partner with physicians in the UNC Family Medicine Department to provide good quality health information for listeners of the Your Health radio show and blog.

Research Interests

Physician-patient communication, electronic health records, consumer access to health information, evidence based practice and clinical decision support at the point of care. 

Handler L., Crowell K., Renner B., Silbajoris C., Blackwell J., Ladd R. "On the Air! Librarians and Doctors Using the Radio to Communicate with Listeners about Health." Paper presented at the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA (May, 2012).

Page N., DeLuca J., Crowell K. "Clinical inquiries: What is the optimal pharmacologic treatment for diabetic neuropathic pain?" Journal of Family Practice 2012 [in process]

Fashner J., Crowell K., Garcia M., Ribble L. "Clinical Inquiries: What risk factors contribute to clostridium difficile colitis?" Journal of Family Practice 2011 Sep;60(9):546-7.

Reddick BK, Crowell K, Fu B. "Clinical inquiries. Which vaccinations are indicated after splenectomy?" Journal of Family Practice 2006 Aug;55(8):711-2.

Webb CW, Crowell K, Cravens D. "Clinical inquiries: What blood tests help diagnose celiac disease?" Journal of Family Practice 2006 Dec;55(12):1088, 1090, 1093.

Biola, H., K. Crowell, and F. Grover Jr. "Clinical Inquiries. Which imaging modality is best for suspected stroke?" Journal of Family Practice 2005 June;54(6):538-9.

Crowell K, Emrick C, Stalzer, B, van der Horst, C. "From White Board to Knowledge Base." Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Medical Library Association, Baltimore, MD (May, 2007).

Allegri, F., J. Shaw-Kokot, K. A. McGraw, and K. Crowell. "Helping Pinch Hitters Step Out While Covering Home Base." Presented at the 2005 Annual Meeting of the Medical Library Association, San Antonio , TX (May, 2005).

Crowell, K., Eades, B.L., Holmgren, S., and Murphy, B. "Streamlining Mid-Atlantic Chapter Meeting Registration Using Acteva." Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Medical Library Association, San Antonio, TX (May, 2005).

Fischer, J.E., K. Crowell, and P. Curtis. "Complementary and Alternative Medical Reference Software for Personal Digital Assistants: Evidence of Clinical Applicability." Complementary Health Practice Review 2005 Jan:10(1)57-72.