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Finding information on critical and sensitive health conditions when needed is not always easy and is especially difficult when people in need are unaware of where or how to find reliable information. To address this need, the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (PCOM) Library launched a partnership project in 2008 with the San Diego Public Library, the Third Avenue Charitable Organization of the First Lutheran Church, and “The Center,” a San Diego County lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community organization to begin an HIV/AIDS Health Information Outreach Service in San Diego. The aim was to fill an information gap and raise awareness and use of the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) authoritative resources through computer access training for HIV/AIDS patients, community residents of diverse ethnic backgrounds, and health professionals who serve the afflicted. Funded in part by an NLM award for two years (2008–2010), the PCOM Library exceeded original expectations and reached more than 2,500 participants in San Diego. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The medical library of the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego developed a community outreach project to provide computer training on how to access electronic health information using the NLM and related databases. The goal is to enable local senior residents to improve their health and health care by accessing authoritative information. The original project plan was described in "Senior Health Goes Electronic: Partnership on Access to Health Senior Health Information Services" JCHI 9(2) 2005. This paper is a companion update of that publication covering the project implementation, progress, and its recent expansion. The library consumer health outreach project evolved into a broad environment for teaching health information access to a diverse population at multiple local San Diego community settings. Insights about the library outreach efforts, attendee participation, and the senior health Web page are discussed. Conclusions include the evaluation approach and population diversity of over 3,500 participants (community patients and residents), and over 425 hands-on class attendees from varying ethnic backgrounds, minority groups, low income to middle class adults and seniors. Health professionals (nurses, allied health personnel, and physicians) have also been class attendees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the benefits gained from the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor (CaPSURE). CaPSURE was established in 1995 through the collaboration between TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc. and the Urology Department at the University of California in San Francisco in an effort to create a community based disease registry. Outcomes of CaPSURE are highlighted. The author claims that CaPSURE is a prime example of a successful collaboration between academia and industry.