STANDARD VII – FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT AND
RESOURCES
SUMMARY
A subcommittee addressed the specific issues related
to this standard. After an objective evaluation of findings, the committee
concludes that the UABSO’s teaching, patient care and research facilities,
equipment, and resources are sufficient to accomplish the mission, goals and
objectives of the program. Students and faculty have the necessary facilities,
equipment, support staff and services to access information necessary to meet
the educational, instructional, clinical, research and other scholarly objectives
of the program.
7.1 The teaching and
patient care facilities and equipment must be appropriate to fulfill the
mission, goals and objectives of the program.
Examples of
Evidence (Narrative descriptions):
·
physical plant and its utilization.
·
floor plans of the HPB and Worrell Building
·
description of equipment relative to quantity, condition and
currency
·
classroom technology
·
report from 2nd 3rd floor taskforce report
(available on site)
I. FACILITIES
The UABSO provides classrooms, teaching
laboratories, clinic space, and other physical facilities conducive to a
productive learning, research and service environment. UABSO activities are housed in six principal facilities:
1)
Henry B. Peters Building (HPB)
2)
Paul S. Worrell Building (WORB)
and the Holcomb Building
3)
Center for the Development of
Functional Imaging (CDFI)
4)
Volker Hall (VH)
5)
University Optometric Group
(UOG)
6)
Center for Biophysical Sciences
and Engineering (CBSE)
These buildings currently provide 175,000 gross
square feet of space with a net assignable space of almost 114,000 square
feet. When the Eye Research laboratories
are completed in Volker hall, an additional net 15,000 square feet will become
available.
These facilities were evaluated using current space
inventories/floor plans, walking tours, and by reviewing plans for near-future
renovation projects. Adequacy was also assessed by comparing the available
space to the space requirements of the activities of the various constituent groups. Current
students, faculty, staff, and alumni were surveyed in August 2008 to determine
the various groups’ perception of the appropriateness of the facilities,
resources and equipment available for achieving the School’s missions, goals,
and objectives. The survey indicated a high level of satisfaction with the school’s
facilities, resources and equipment among all constituencies.
BUILDINGS
1. HENRY B. PETERS BUILDING (HPB)
The Henry B. Peters Building was occupied in August 1975. The seven-level structure (six above ground
and a basement parking garage) contains 105,500 gross square feet and ~68,600
net assignable square feet of space. The
HPB was specifically designed for the education and training of optometry
students, the provision of clinical optometric services, faculty research, and
the administration and support of these three missions of the institution. It is conveniently located within the internationally
renowned UAB Academic Health Center which comprises the largest portion of the
UAB campus. It is next door to the
Lister Hill Library for the Health Sciences and within a short walking distance
of the other optometry facilities. A
general HPB directory is as follows:
· Basement – parking garage
·
Ground floor – Optometry Teaching Clinic (UAB Eye Care), clinic administration
and the Springer Conference Room
·
First floor – School of Optometry dean’s office, administrative offices, mailroom/copy
area, waiting/reception area for applicants or interviewees, conference room
and a student lounge
·
Second floor – a classroom, teaching laboratories and Community Eye Care Service offices
·
Third floor – two classrooms, a teaching laboratory, a student study area and
the Computing and Data Resources (CADRE) offices
·
Fourth floor – Clinical Eye Research Facility, vision research laboratories
and a conference room
· Fifth
floor – faculty offices, two
administrative offices and a faculty commons area
Secure electronic card readers provide 24-hour
access to the HPB for students, faculty and staff.
A 24/7 video monitoring system provides additional
security. The HPB houses the teaching
clinic, classrooms, teaching laboratories, faculty and staff offices, and some
research facilities. The UABSO is
diligent in maintaining its physical facilities and is in a continuous process
of improving, upgrading and renovating in response to demand. This is evidenced by recent renovations to
the optometry teaching clinic, the clinical research facility, and classroom 301.
HPB
Classrooms
The following
summary describes the features of the HPB classrooms:
· The HPB contains
three classrooms, originally designed to accommodate 40 students each. One classroom is located on the second floor
(room 203) and two are located on the third (rooms 301 and 303). A modification
was completed in August 2008 to increase the capacity of classroom 301. Now classrooms 203 and 301 can accommodate up
to 60 students/attendees if necessary.
Classroom 303 can comfortably accommodate only 40 and is currently used
for lab meetings and other presentations to smaller groups.
· Classroom size
is an issue with faculty and students as indicated by the outcome of the 2008
Self Study Survey question on that topic.
However, the recent expansion of Classroom 301 (July/August, 2008) has
been a short-term effort to address the classroom space issues identified by
the survey. The UABSO plan to deal with
this in the long term is noted under Standard 7.1.1 below.
· The number of
classrooms has been sufficient since the fourth year interns are assigned
exclusively to clinics and externships and have no scheduled lectures. Additionally, the majority of the first year
lectures are held in Volker Hall, conveniently located a short walk away, the
same as for other health professional students from the Schools of Medicine and
Dentistry.
· All three HPB
classrooms contain identical audio visual teaching podiums that were recently
upgraded at a cost of ~$12,000 each.
Each podium is equipped with state-of-the-art components capable of
projecting digital media while still supporting the VHS and SVHS tape media
format. In the spring of 2008,
classrooms 203 and 301 were outfitted with new state-of-the-art LCD ceiling
projectors which are controlled from the podium.
· Visual
presenters are integrated into the projector system allowing faculty to project
black/white or color objects with digital zoom capabilities. The visual presenters accommodate two and
three dimensional images and are effective with eye models and multiple
teaching items. The computer
configuration allows access to the school’s server and is interfaced to the
Internet to facilitate web-based presentations.
The classroom computer systems are regularly upgraded to ensure the most
current operating systems and software.
· Other classroom
features include 16 ceiling-mounted speakers with voice modulation controlled
by either a lavaliere or a cordless microphone and illumination by Rheostat
controlled incandescent as well as fluorescent lighting.
Self Study 2008 School Survey Outcomes
The mean score is based on the following scale:
Strongly Agree = 5, Agree = 4, Neutral = 3, Disagree = 2, Strongly Disagree = 1.
All percentage values
were rounded to the nearest whole number.
Survey
question relating to 7.1 (classroom facilities):
1. “Classroom space is (Alumni “was)
large enough for classes:”
|
|
||||||
|
n |
% |
n |
% |
n |
% |
|
|
Strongly
Agree |
5 |
12% |
49 |
24% |
2 |
2% |
|
Agree |
10 |
24% |
131 |
63% |
10 |
11% |
|
Neutral |
1 |
2% |
11 |
5% |
15 |
17% |
|
Disagree |
16 |
39% |
13 |
6% |
41 |
47% |
|
Strongly
Disagree |
9 |
22% |
3 |
1% |
20 |
23% |
|
Total |
41 |
100% |
207 |
100% |
88 |
100% |
|
Mean Score |
2.66 |
4.00 |
2.22 |
|||
|
|
Alumni Responses by Graduation
Date (7 year
groupings) |
||||
|
Year |
1973-1979 |
1980-1986 |
1987-1993 |
1994-2000 |
2001-2007 |
|
Mean Score |
4.36 |
4.49 |
4.00 |
4.10 |
3.65 |
Survey Questions |
Mean Score |
||
|
Classroom
facilities are (Alumni “were”) in good condition |
3.73 |
4.10 |
3.46 |
|
Classroom
facilities are (Alumni “were”) well maintained |
3.73 |
4.08 |
3.54 |
|
Classroom
lighting is adequate |
4.00 |
|
3.70 |
|
Classroom
acoustics are good |
3.93 |
|
3.83 |
The classroom space issue is addressed in greater
detail in Standard 7.1.1 (“The program must
provide for the repair, maintenance and replacement of physical facilities and
equipment”). Faculty and students appeared to have no additional
concerns about classroom facilities. The
condition of classrooms, maintenance, lighting and acoustics all produced a
majority of responses that were positive.
HPB Teaching
and Research Laboratories
The laboratories described below are located on the second, third
and fourth floors of the HPB:
· 2nd
floor: A 1,169 square foot Visual Optics Laboratory
(HPB 204), a 1,013 square foot Ophthalmic Optics Laboratory (HPB 205) containing
five lens fabrication machines, and a 1,952 square foot Pre-Clinical Laboratory,
(HPB 201), are located on the HPB 2nd floor. The Pre-Clinical Laboratory contains 12
operatories, each equipped with an examination chair, phoropter, keratometer
and slit lamp. A Nikon Speedy-K Autorefractor-keratometer, a Humphrey Fields
Analyzer II and an MVC Slit Lamp Imager system with Marco G4 Ultra slit lamp
are also housed in this teaching laboratory.
·
3rd
floor: An 828 square foot teaching
laboratory for binocular vision courses is located in HPB305. This laboratory contains equipment for
testing of binocular vision, strabismus, amblyopia and sensory fusion
testing. It also contains equipment needed
for vision training instruction.
· 4th floor: Clinical research laboratories are housed in
HPB 434 and 439. This entire area
encompasses the Clinical Eye Research Facility HPB. 439 is used for visual field studies and
contains a Nidek MP-1 Microperimeter, a Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer and a
computer. HPB 434 is used for
psychophysics and eye movement research projects. It contains a SR Research Eyelink II eye
tracker and a computer. Both laboratories are used to conduct sponsored
research and to develop new research projects.
The two research groups housed
on the fourth floor of the HPB provide research opportunities for numerous
students in the OD/MS and OD/PhD programs. Laboratory space is available for
molecular biological research projects (e.g. corneal biochemistry) as well as
ocular surface immunology.
Clinical
Eye Research Facility
The Clinical Eye Research Facility is housed on the fourth floor
of the HPB. This space occupies 1,800 gross
square feet and 1,500 net square feet. The
facility contains a waiting area, a conference room, two staff offices, three
exam rooms, a special test room, a large storage area, and rooms for history,
visual fields and imaging. Two full-time
research assistants are housed in this facility. This facility was renovated and expanded in
fall 2002 and re-opened in fall 2003.
Offices
Offices of the Dean, the Senior Director of Development
and Alumni Affairs, the Coordinator of Alumni Affairs, the Director of
Administration and Finance, the Coordinator of Continuing Education and the
Coordinator of Student Affairs as well as eight offices for support staff are
located on the HPB 1st floor.
Offices for Community Eye Care Services are located on the second floor. The school’s Computing and Data Resources
(CADRE) offices are located on the third floor.
The fifth floor contains 25 faculty offices and two support staff
offices. All HPB offices are comfortably
furnished and well-equipped with computers and the necessary peripheral
equipment.
HPB
Conference Rooms
· Springer Conference Room – a 517 square foot conference
room located on the HPB ground floor (UAB Eye Care) contains a large conference
table with seating for 12 and additional perimeter seating for 6. This contemporary designed room is outfitted
with an overhead projector and a computer for a variety of presentation options.
· 1st floor – This well-appointed 464 square
foot conference room is primarily used for official UABSO meetings and
events. The room contains a large
conference table with seating for 10, along with a sofa and two side chairs.
·
4th floor – This 272
square foot conference room is primarily used for research seminars
and lab meetings. The room can
comfortably accommodate up to 14 individuals.
· Fifth floor – The Faculty Commons area (392 square
feet) serves primarily as a lounge for faculty but is used on occasion for
committee meetings.
Self Study 2008 School Survey Outcomes
Survey questions relating to 7.1 (conference
rooms):
The mean score is based on the following scale:
Strongly Agree = 5, Agree = 4, Neutral = 3, Disagree = 2, Strongly Disagree =
1. All percentage values
were rounded to the nearest whole number.
|
Survey Questions |
Mean Score |
||
|
There
are (Alumni “were”) an adequate number of conference/meeting rooms in the
school |
3.84 |
3.68 |
|
|
There
are an adequate number of clinic conference rooms |
4.21 |
3.95 |
3.91 |
According to the above survey results, there are no
concerns about conference rooms within the school or clinic.
HPB Amenities
Study Area
A computer/study room for students is available on
the third floor of the HPB (304).
The room contains twelve computers, 2 printers, a copy machine, and a large work table that will accommodate
several students working on projects. The
three HPB classrooms also serve as study areas when classes are not in
session.
Additional
Amenities
Other
available amenities include:
·
Student Lockers. Lockers
for the first and second year students are located on the second and third
floors, while lockers for the third and fourth year interns are on the clinic
floor on a first come first served basis.
·
HPB was equipped with wireless internet (WiFi) capability on all
floors in 2005.
· A 751
square foot student lounge containing two refrigerators, four microwave ovens
and an ice machine is located on the first floor of the HPB. An exterior door
connects this lounge to an outdoor rooftop plaza with four picnic tables and
other seating in a pleasant environment. Drink and snack vending machines are
located on the garage level floor entrance vestibule.
· A
faculty commons located on the fifth floor of the HPB occupies 392 square foot
and contains a conference table, a sofa and side chairs, a refrigerator, a sink
and a small food preparation area.
2. PAUL S. WORRELL BUILDING
A private
donation from Mrs. Sylvia D. Worrell was used to create the conference center
on the first floor that is used for graduate student lectures, seminars by visiting
scholars, for doctoral and master’s degree seminars, and for faculty
meetings. It is also in increasing
demand for University, as well as School of Optometry functions. The audiovisual equipment for this room as
updated in 2000.
The following
projects have been completed in the Worrell Building since submission of the
last self study report:
1st
floor The existing smoke/fire
alarm system was replaced with a more technically advanced unit, security/surveillance
cameras were installed and outside curbing put in place to control basement
flooding between April 2007 and March 2008.
Mezzanine The Vision Science Graduate Program
moved to the adjoining Holcomb building and the mezzanine space was renovated
for the Electronics Modules and the Computer Module (prior to 2002).
2nd
floor Drs. Fullard and
Whikehart moved to HPB and their space was renovated for Drs. Kraft and Dobbins
(prior to 2002). Dr. Keyser relocated to
3rd floor and his space reconfigured for Dr. Gross in January 2007.
3rd
floor In September 2002, the
following projects were completed: balconies on half of the floor were enclosed
and converted into heated/cooled space that allowed for reconfiguration of the
histology module and the addition of another research lab which was originally
used for confocal imaging but is now the laboratory for Dr. Keyser.
4th
floor After Dr. Mays’ retirement
on January 4, 2004, his lab was divided into two separate labs and the
balconies enclosed. Dr. Busettini’s laboratory was completed in December
2006. The balcony space has not yet been
converted into heated/cooled space but it is anticipated that this will be
finished in the future. The second laboratory is currently being used as an
office for the molecular biology module manager and a computer programmer.
Elevators New elevator controls have been installed
and the project was completed at the end of August 2008. The interior of each
elevator car has also been renovated. This
project was completed in October, 2008.
The
Paul S. Worrell Building houses 19 faculty and staff offices as well as 11
research laboratories.
Holcomb Building:
A
graduate student area is provided in the Holcomb Building, which is adjacent to
the Worrell Building. The space,
approximately 1,000 square feet, contains space for 15 trainees. It is equipped with a sink, microwave oven,
refrigerator, 7 computers, a scanner, 2 printers and a copy machine and has
secure web access.
3.
CENTER FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUNCTIONAL IMAGING (CDFI)
In 2002,
construction began on a functional Neuroimaging (fMRI) facility adjacent to the
Worrell Building. The center has 2,400
gross square feet and 1,900 net square feet.
The gross square footage of this building is approximately 2,800 and the
net assignable space is approximately 1,950 square feet. The W.M. Keck Foundation provided $1.5
million for the purchase of the magnet for this university-wide research
initiative. Additional funding has come
from the National Science Foundation, The EyeSight Foundation of Alabama,
Health Services Foundation, UAB Office of the President, UABSO and the VSRC.
The centerpiece of the CDFI facility is a 4.7 T 60 cm bore actively shielded vertical
magnet optimized for fMRI studies. The system uses a Magnex gradient set and a
Varian Unity-Inova controller with a Sun host computer running VNMRJ. Visual stimuli are presented using an Avotec
fiber-optic system, and eye movements are monitored with an embedded binocular
eye tracker. A number of Linux and Sun computers are available on-site for data
analysis and for the development of pulse sequences. In addition, the building
houses a training area, vivarium, and offices.
4. UNIVERSITY OPTOMETRIC GROUP (UOG)
The University
Optometric Group relocated to 1701 9th Avenue South in November 2005.
The UOG had been housed two blocks away in the Atlas Building for the previous
18 years. The new location was completely
renovated with new carpet, paint, heating and cooling systems immediately prior
to occupancy. At 4,400 square feet, it
is about 1,000 square feet larger than the old location, allowing for a
doubling of the optical dispensary area.
It also offers convenient metered parking in a lot just outside the
building entrance. This area allows for
the parking of approximately 20 vehicles. The present location is conveniently located
and easily accessible for faculty and staff from both the Academic Health
Center and the Academic areas of campus.
5. VOLKER HALL (VH)
Volker Hall is a University facility, containing the
faculty tower with research laboratories, five large lecture halls and dry and
wet teaching laboratories. The teaching
facilities are used by the Schools of Optometry, Dentistry and Medicine. All of
the lecture halls have been upgraded (carpeting, seating, audio-visual) since
the last reporting period.
VH A is the largest lecture hall with a capacity of
598. The chairs, desks and carpet, sound and computer systems were replaced in 2003.
Lecture Halls B, C, D, and E seat 167, 121, 121, and 222, respectively. Many of the classes attended by first and
second year optometry students are held in VH C and D, both of which were
renovated in the spring of 2007, and all optometry final examinations are
administered in the VH lecture halls. Laboratories
associated with some of the basic science courses are also held in the Volker
Hall facility.
A six-story medical undergraduate facility adjacent
to Volker Hall tower was completed in 2003.
Three floors devoted to student teaching and study are contained in this
newly-added space.
Newly available rooms pertinent to the optometry
program in the Volker Tower Medical Undergraduate Facility (VTMUF) include:
• VTMUF 3rd floor - Case study rooms accommodating
up to 30 students for interactive small-group teaching; clinical-skills
practice rooms where students view video and computer generated cases to
improve diagnostic skills; and a lecture room which will accommodate up to 100.
• VTMUF 4th floor - Group study rooms for
individual specialized training
• VTMUF 5th floor - 50 student carrels are
available for private individual study.
An important example of
UAB’s continuing commitment to vision research is the allocation of
approximately $6M for the renovation of two floors in Volker Hall Tower that
will be designated as the UAB Eye Research Laboratories. This will provide
nearly 20,000 gross square feet and 15,000 net square feet of newly-renovated
laboratory space for vision science investigators from the Departments of Vision
Sciences (Optometry) and Ophthalmology (Medicine), Psychology (Social and
Behavioral Sciences), Biomedical Engineering (Engineering), and for five new faculty
to be recruited over the next three years. Renovation is expected to begin in
the late winter or early spring of 2009.
The School of Optometry coordinated the development and funding of this
project. The School has contributed $1 million
to this new facility.
6.
CENTER FOR BIOPHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING (CBSE)
Laboratories
The CBSE
maintains a variety of research equipment along with the trained staff to
provide support for the research needs of Center members. These services are available at a minimal or reduced cost for users in
support of their research. These laboratory
capabilities are grouped into the following four Core areas:
|
· X-Ray Diffraction Core |
· Protein Nano-Screen Core |
|
· Biomolecular Analysis Service Core |
· Self Interaction Chromatography (SIC) Core |
X-Ray Diffraction Core
· In-House X-ray Facilities
This
state-of-the-art laboratory is devoted to the collection of the highest quality
X-ray diffraction data from macromolecular single crystals for the purpose of
molecular structure determination. The
laboratory is equipped with three Raxis IV image plate systems, and a Bruker 2K
CCD detector. These detectors are
mounted on three rotating copper anode, fine focus, Rigaku X-ray
generators. The three Raxis image plate
systems are coupled to the advanced Blue Optic X-ray focusing systems from
Molecular Structure Corporation. Four
X-Streams cryogenic systems are available for freezing crystals during data
collection. The laboratory also has the
Cryo Xe-citer from Molecular Structure Corporation which can be used to produce
Xenon derivatives of protein crystals under pressure and cryo-freezing of those
crystals. The laboratory has full
crystal structure solution capability using state-of-the-art computing, crystallographic software, and molecular graphics
resources.
· Synchrotron Beam Line
The
CBSE also is a three share member of the Southeast Region Collaborative Access
Team (SERCAT) that provides access to two world class synchrotron beam lines at
the Advanced Photon Source (APS) located on the campus of Argonne National
Laboratory outside of Chicago, IL. These beamlines provide the most powerful
X-ray beams available to macromolecular crystallographers in the world. They provide CBSE faculty with the
capabilities that far surpass home laboratory equipment to do the highest
possible resolution data collection, collect data from much smaller crystals, allow
work on much larger molecules including viruses, and perform the vitally
important maximum angle diffraction experiments which require the capability to
select X-ray wavelengths. The SERCAT
beam lines are designed to allow robotic and remote data collection
capability. Protein crystals shipped
frozen to the APS can be loaded into a cryogenic dewar by SERCAT staff and UAB
crystallographers can mount, align, and collect data from the crystals using
remote terminals located in their CBSE offices.
Biomolecular Analysis Service Core
·
BIAcore 2000, GE Healthcare
The BIAcore 2000 is located in
CBSE 221, a 324 sq. ft. wet laboratory. Practical applications of the
instrument are:
¨
Can
determine intermolecular binding kinetics in real time.
-
Extremely
fast on- or off-rates can be quantified through manipulation of the binding
conditions.
-
No
labeling of either binding partner is necessary.
¨
Monitors
the formation of large multi-molecular complexes under a variety of conditions
or post-translational modifications.
-
Binding
studies can be performed under virtually any conditions, with the signal being
directly correlated to the size of the complex being formed.
-
Binding
partners can be identified from crude samples, low volume cell cultures, or
unknown solutions (ligand fishing).
-
Complex
mixtures can be passed over immobilized receptor and the binding partners
captured for subsequent analysis.
¨
Provides
micro-affinity sample purification for identification by mass spectrometry.
-
It
is possible to capture the soluble binding partner during and after the binding
study. This is similar to small-scale affinity chromatography.
¨
Performs
epitope mapping studies.
-
Because
the signal given is directly correlated to the size of the binding complex
formed, it becomes possible to detect the presence or absence of multiple
binding sites on a molecule.
· Robotic
Capillary Differential Scanning Calorimetry (Cap-DSC), MicroCal, Inc.
The Cap-DSC is located in CBSE
220, a 608 square foot wet laboratory.
Practical applications of the instrument are:
¨
Quantifies
the heat absorbed by a macromolecule as it undergoes a conformational or
structural change, usually denaturation.
-
DSC
detects protein and DNA unfolding from which the thermal stability can be
obtained.
-
DSC
can identify the interaction of other molecules – small compounds and other
proteins.
-
DSC
measures excess heat capacity function, <∆Cp>,
versus T.
-
∆G,
∆H, and
∆S can all be obtained.
¨
Can
determine the number of intermediate steps that occur during a protein’s
denaturation process.
-
DSC
measures the van’t Hoff enthalpy, <∆HVH> and the
calorimetric enthalpy (∆Hcal) during equilibrium
unfolding processes.
-
The
stability of each step is estimated.
¨
Provides
insight into linkage effects of ligand binding.
-
Ligand
binding impact on structural stability is determined.
-
The
effects of ligand binding on conformational changes of structural transitions
is determined.
-
The
ligand dependency of the free energy of interacting domains interfaces, ∆GAB,
is determined
Protein Nano-Screen Core
The CBSE Protein Nano-Screen Core
is located in rooms 211 and 212 of the CBSE building (1300 square foot wet lab
facility). Protein crystallization screening is
an important process in the determination of protein structures. Proteins are
crystallized in order to determine their molecular structure by x-ray protein
crystallography. However, the most time consuming as well as protein sample
consuming process on the path to determining molecular structure is the protein
crystallization step. This involves screening a large number of buffer
conditions until conditions are ideal to induce protein crystallization.
Automating the process has allowed not only faster setup of experiments but
also accurate dispensing of nano-liter sized drops to allow for more
experiments with smaller sample size.
Available systems include the following:
·
Phoenix liquid handler, Art Robbins Instruments
¨ Nine assay positions with 6 source or destination plate positions, 2 reagent positions, 1 wash station position.
¨ Uses most commercially available labware and can be programmed for special trays.
¨ Multiple-syringe drive: 96 syringe head configuration with flexible needles allows for rapid dispensing of screen solutions(dispensing range 0.1-100 ml).
¨ Independent non-contact nano-dispenser can deliver volumes as low as 50nL.
·
Cartesian Honeybee System, Genomic Solutions
¨ Programs available for many of the traditional crystallization trays on 96 well format.
¨ 16 Syna-quad channels with non-porous ceramic tips which allows for rapid dispensing of screen solutions.
¨ One independent protein solution dispensing channel
¨ Non-contact nano-dispenser can deliver volumes as low as 100nL.
¨ Included on the
deck are six plate positions, a protein solution vial chiller, vacuum pump, air
compressor and computer controller
¨ Dispensing unit
in enclosed in a humidity chamber that maintains 96% humidity.
·
CrystalScore imaging system, Diversified Scientific,
Inc.
¨ Uses inverted, bottom
viewing optics to image various liquid diffusion crystallization trays.
¨ Saves images in
database that allows user to sort and analyze crystallization results
·
NanoFlex™ IFC Controller for the TOPAZ®
System (nano-scale), Fluidigm
¨ 96 different free interface diffusion experiments can be done using as little as 4 micro-liters of protein sample.
¨ Uses single-use chips available in the 1.96, 4.96, or the 8.96 format to screen one, four, or eight protein samples, respectively, against 96 reagents.
·
TOPAZ® AutoInspeX® II Workstation from Fluidigm
¨ Works with TOPAZ
screening chips to automate imaging and crystallization analysis of free
interface diffusion experiment.
Self Interaction Chromatography Core
A
protein characterization technique which exploits the specificity of
protein-protein interactions that is common to protein aggregates and enables
the rapid screening of protein formulation additives as physical stabilizers
against aggregation. Available systems
include the following:
·
Prominence HPLC, Shimadzu
A
multi-component liquid chromatograph with the following components:
¨ 2
LC-20AD
solvent deliver system with pulse-free delivery allows high performance in
micro-flow-rate range of 50ul/min
¨ SIL-20A/20AC
Autosampler for sample injection speed, accuracy, cross-contamination
countermeasures make it possible to perform analysis without carryover
¨ CTO-20A/20AC
HPLC column ovens precisely regulate the temperature around the column.
¨ SPD-20A/20AV
UV-Vis detectors offer an exceptional level of sensitivity and stability with a
noise level of 0.5×10-5 AU max
Offices
The CBSE
facility has 95 offices including accommodations for the Center Director,
Financial/Administrative personnel, faculty, project/laboratory managers,
scientists, engineers, and other support staff.
Also, the CBSE maintains an 850 square foot study room (also referenced
under “Study Areas”) for graduate students. Included in this space are cubicles
with desks that can be assigned to students performing research in the
facility. All offices include
communication and network access.
Conference
Rooms
The CBSE
facility includes a conference center as well as 4 conference rooms. The 1,910 square foot conference center
includes configurable seating, audio/visual capability, and moveable dividers
to allow the space to be divided into two smaller rooms. Also included is a kitchen area with counter
space, sink, and microwave.
The 4 conference
rooms vary in size from 377 square feet for the largest to 207 square feet for
the smallest. All have a conference room
table, seating, audio/visual capability, and phone/network access.
Study
Areas
The CBSE
maintains an 850 square foot study room divided up into 22 cubicles for use by
graduate students. Facilities for use by
the students include desk space, telephones, computers, and printer access. A
journal room is also maintained and available for researchers and
students. Subscriptions to numerous
research journals and other periodicals are maintained for reference use. Audio visual equipment is available for
student and other presentations.
Self Study 2008 School Survey Outcomes
Survey questions relating to 7.1
(physical
space):
The mean score is based on the following scale: Strongly Agree = 5, Agree
= 4, Neutral = 3, Disagree = 2, Strongly Disagree = 1. All percentage values were rounded to the
nearest whole number.
|
Survey Questions |
Mean Score |
||
|
The
building where I work is well maintained |
4.10 |
||
|
I feel
physically safe within “my workplace” (faculty and staff)..“the school of
optometry and surrounding environment” (students) |
4.22 |
3.56 |
3.99 |
|
I am
aware that after hours services are available for campus transportation |
4.44 |
4.02 |
4.46 |
|
My
office space (Staff “workspace”) is adequate |
4.01 |
4.11 |
|
|
My lab
space is adequate |
3.54 |
|
|
|
I have
access to the equipment I need to do my job |
4.13 |
4.49 |
|
|
I have
access to the supplies I need to do my job |
4.34 |
||
All, but two, of the above survey questions received
strong positive responses. The question
asked of students about physical safety differed from that asked of faculty and
staff. Students were asked about
“feeling physically safe within the school and surrounding environment.” Students do not have parking immediately
adjacent to the Henry Peters Building, whereas most faculty and staff park
either in the Basement Lot of the Peters Building or the Worrell Building
lot. The student parking lot is two blocks
from the Peters Building. The university has police emergency phones located
strategically around campus and continues to increase their number. In addition, well publicized university
escort services are available to transport any university personnel, including
students, upon request.
The question regarding faculty laboratory space
received a positive response, but not as strong as that for other questions in
this section. The acquisition of
additional laboratory space in Volker Hall will allow further expansion of the
school’s laboratory space.
II. COMPUTING AND DATA
RESOURCES (CADRE)
Computing resources and support are provided to faculty, staff
and students of the School from three sources: the UABSO CADRE, the university
Information Technology (IT) group and, for faculty who are members of the
Vision Science Research Center, the VSRC Computer/ Electronics Module. The VSRC
support is solely for Vision Science Research Center laboratories and is not
included in this report. The University IT group provides electronic mail
(email) services for faculty, students and staff of the university, providing
seamless messaging and scheduling through the common address list. In addition, the university provides the
student information system, Banner by SunGard Higher Education, which is used
across the campus. Support for these
services is through the university IT support group, known as AskIT, and is
also not included in this report.
CADRE provides and maintains the computers used by faculty,
staff and students in the administrative offices, clinic, Optometry Department,
Vision Sciences Department, professional and graduate programs and the UOG.
Additionally, CADRE provides and maintains the computers used in the classrooms
and conference rooms within the Henry Peters and Worrell buildings. Over 200
computers within the UABSO are provided and maintained by this group, and
nearly 400 users are supported by it. CADRE also provides and maintains the
servers for the electronic network as well as shared resources such as database
and web services, file sharing and Compulink (the Clinic Information System). Currently, fourteen servers make up the UABSO
data center.
Regarding hardware, CADRE supplies the desktop computers and
repairs and supports the computers of the previously identified user base.
Because of the constant evolution of computer hardware, CADRE has established a
four-year rotation schedule for replacing and upgrading computer equipment. A
typical desktop unit includes a PC or Mac, a monitor and the associated
peripheral equipment. Printers are chosen based on the needs of the individual
user and are funded by the associated department, but are ordered and installed
by CADRE. Regarding software, each computer is delivered with Microsoft Office
installed, which includes Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher (for PCs)
and Outlook for PCs or Entourage for Macs. Until recently, McAfee VirusScan has
been the antivirus product licensed by the university to protect servers and PC
workstations, but it is currently being replaced by Microsoft Forefront. Microsoft FrontPage and SharePoint Designer
are available for designing and editing web pages, and LXR-test software is available
for multiple choice test construction. CADRE also provides automatic backups of
each user’s documents through backup-to-disk and backup-to-tape systems.
To provide these services, CADRE has five FTE positions, with
the director, Mr. Brian Rosenow, acting as systems administrator. Three CADRE staff members provide technical
and user support emphasizing extensive cross-training and direct contact with
users to maximize customer service. One CADRE member is a full-time programmer,
integrating data maintained by the university with that maintained within the
UABSO, to provide value-added information support. Examples of recent
programming projects include an online Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET)
system, a patient encounter tracking system for students on externship, and a
scanning and tracking system for subjects in the Preschool PEEPERS research
study. In addition to the personnel, CADRE maintains a budget for hardware,
software and supplies. The CADRE
organizational chart and a copy of the current CV for Mr. Rosenow
are included.
Self Study 2008 School Survey Outcomes
Survey questions
relating to 7.1 (Computing and Data Resources):
The mean score is based on the following scale: Strongly Agree = 5, Agree
= 4, Neutral = 3, Disagree = 2, Strongly Disagree = 1, Cannot make a judgment:
not scored. All percentage values were
rounded to the nearest whole number.
|
Survey Questions |
Mean Score |
||
|
The
student computer room is well maintained |
3.49 |
|
|
|
The
number of computers available in the school for student use is adequate |
3.00 |
|
|
|
Support
for computer problems in the School of Optometry is readily available |
4.29 |
3.64 |
4.54 |
|
The
Information Services (including email) of the school meets my needs |
3.87 |
|
|
|
The
school’s Information Technology personnel respond to my requests for computer
assistance in a timely manner |
4.43 |
3.89 |
4.63 |
|
Support
is available for computer software issues |
4.18 |
4.49 |
|
The Computer and
Data Resources group generally receives strongly positive opinions from faculty
and staff on all questions and positive scores from students regarding
support. Students’ only concern appears
to be the availability of computers in the school for student use. However, the Lister Hill Library of the Health
Sciences, immediately next door to the school, provides a relatively large number
of computers for student use. In
addition, more and more students are bringing their personal laptop computers
to the school.
III.
CLINICAL FACILITIES
UAB
Eye Care
The primary
clinical teaching facility, UAB Eye Care, is located on the ground floor of the
Henry Peters Building and strategically placed within the middle of the UAB Academic
Health Center. The entrance to UAB Eye
Care is on University Boulevard, which is the third busiest state highway in
Alabama, providing the facility greatly increased visibility. This clinic comprises 34,000 gross square
feet. A total renovation with
construction lasting approximately 1.5 years with an approximate cost of $5M
began in April 2003. Patient care began
in this newly renovated clinical facility on September 7, 2004. Each of the
examination rooms received new ophthalmic equipment at an additional cost of
$1M. The entire clinic also received new
furnishings. The clinic was renamed UAB
Eye Care with the help of UAB Marketing and several consumer focus groups that
provided critical input. Key design
features are the relocation of the entrance to University Boulevard and moving
the Optical Services area to the front of the space with roadside
display windows for greater visibility. Frequency
of room usage varies, but there are approximately 40 examination rooms for
interns and residents, five attending optometrist offices, five technician
offices, a large diagnostic imaging suite, student “ready” room, spacious
supply room, a break room, medical records room, a large conference room
(Springer Conference Room), a large multipurpose area that serves as a waiting
room as well as a venue for continuing education programs, centralized
reception area, large optical services area with an in-house finishing
laboratory, business office and a suite of administrative offices that houses
the Director of Clinical Programs, Practice Manager and Coordinator of Clinical
Administrative Services.
The equipment in the examination rooms varies
in keeping with the administration’s goal to expose the interns to various
products. Each student is required to
provide a trial set, binocular indirect ophthalmoscope, handheld diagnostic
lenses, handheld diagnostic instrumentation, routine diagnostic test equipment
(color vision book, stereopsis test, cover paddle, prism sets and various near
point cards) stethoscope and sphygmomanometer.
Each examination room is equipped with a projector (standard or
computerized), phoropter, biomicroscope, tonometer, chair and stand. Many of the examination rooms include
keratometers. Each room has an
ergonomically designed writing desk with storage draws, rheostat control for
room illumination and sink with foot operated pedal. The facility also houses a minor procedures
room that is utilized for physical examination, pre and post-operative surgical
evaluation and specific surgical procedures.
The imaging suite equipment includes automated
visual field testing (including Humphrey Visual Field and Matrix analyzers),
fundus photography, Zeiss PreView Preferential Hyperacuity Perimetry, OCT, GDx,
HRT, blood flow analyzer, A/B ultrasound, corneal topographer, Marco wavefront
autorefractor/corneal topographer, and pachymeter.
The clinic is organized into five modules which are fully described in
the Standard VIII report.
There are a number of affiliated clinics, not including externship sites
and these are described below:
Low
Vision Clinic - Talladega, Alabama
A permanent
optometric clinical facility is located on the campus of the Alabama Institute
for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) in Talladega, Alabama, approximately 60 miles from
UAB. This clinic is located in the
Health Services Building on the campus of the School for the Deaf. AIDB is divided into four campuses: the
School for the Deaf, the School for the Blind, the Helen Keller School for
Multi-handicapped, and the Gentry vocational program.
The 1,200 square
foot eye clinic has five fully equipped 13-foot examination rooms, one of which
is wheel chair accessible. Each room is
complete with chair, stand, phoropter, biomicroscope, tonometer, visual acuity
charts, trial lens set, and special testing equipment as needed. The clinic has office space for the clinic
director that also serves as an intern “ready room” to prepare for patients
that are to be examined that day. There
are three storage closets for equipment and one supply room with a sink for
hand sanitation. There is a spacious
reception area along with a sub-waiting area for dilating patients. The clinic is equipped with a new Haag-Streit
Octopus 900 visual field machine capable of static and kinetic perimetry, a
tangent screen, fundus/anterior segment camera, portable tonometers, a
pachymeter, ophthalmic equipment for glasses repair and a complete supply of
low vision devices for demonstration.
UAB Center for Low Vision
Rehabilitation
The UAB Center
for Low Visual Rehabilitation is located on the 4th floor of the
Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital at UAB. There is one fully-equipped
examination room, a special testing room with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope,
a treatment room for occupational therapy, a large conference room and a
combined reception/waiting area.
Jefferson County Department of Health – Public
Health Centers
· Bessemer Health Center of the Jefferson County
Department of Health
The
school maintains a permanent optometry clinic within this public health center
with three fully equipped examination rooms, a shared waiting area, a supply
area and an internal sub-waiting area.
· Northern Health Center of the
Jefferson County Department of Health
The
school maintains a permanent optometry clinic within this public health center
with two fully equipped examination rooms, a shared waiting area, and an
administrative office.
Western
Health Center of the Jefferson County Department of Health
The school maintains
a permanent optometry clinic within this public health center with three fully
equipped examination rooms, a shared waiting area and a pre-test area.
United Cerebral Palsy Center (UCPC) – A
United Way Facility
A fully-equipped
wheel-chair accessible optometric examination room exists in the brand-new,
state of the art, facility located on Oslo Circle in Birmingham. Special equipment includes a hand-held
autorefractor and Teller Acuity Cards in addition to standard optometric
equipment. An adjacent conference room
is available for optometry students and faculty use as needed. Students are exposed to the use of
multidisciplinary electronic medical records at this site.
Sparks
Clinic
Optometry services for the multidisciplinary
Sparks Clinic for developmentally delayed children are provided in a single
examination room with chair, stand, biomicroscope, and projector at an external
site that is approximately four blocks from UAB Eye Care. Each optometry resident brings their personal
hand-held equipment to provide comprehensive eye examinations to children
receiving services through the Sparks Clinic.
Low Birth Weight Clinic (also known as the Newborn
Follow-Up Clinic)
Optometry services for the Low Birth Weight (LBW)
Clinic are provided in the same building as those provided for the Sparks
children, but on a different floor. The
area in which all children are seen by any discipline in the LBW clinic
consists of several general examinations rooms, a reception area, and a
conference room, where representatives from all disciplines can convene and
discuss patients. These disciplines include occupational therapy, audiology,
nutrition, and general pediatrics in addition to pediatric optometry. The
resident uses any available exam room and provides personal hand-held
equipment to conduct comprehensive eye examinations on all children older than
1 year (chronological age) and vision screening services on 6-month olds (who
have just had the requisite Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) examinations by
ophthalmology residents in the hospital).
Self Study 2008 School Survey Outcomes
Survey questions
relating to 7.1 (Clinic Facilities):
The mean score is based on the following scale: Strongly Agree = 5, Agree
= 4, Neutral = 3, Disagree = 2, Strongly Disagree = 1, Cannot make a judgment:
not scored. All percentage values were
rounded to the nearest whole number.
|
Survey Questions |
Mean Score |
||
|
The
clinic facilities are (Alumni “were”)
in good condition |
4.76 |
3.99 |
4.44 |
|
Clinic
facilities are (Alumni “were”) well equipped |
4.37 |
4.15 |
4.29 |
|
The
optometry clinic contains (Alumni “contained”) state of the art diagnostic
equipment |
4.32 |
4.10 |
4.38 |
Responses to survey questions regarding
clinic facilities elicited strongly positive responses among all groups.
IV. EQUIPMENT/TECHNOLOGY
The
School provides patients, students, faculty, and staff access to the latest and
most advanced equipment and technology. The clinics continue to acquire new equipment
and technology made possible either through purchases, grants, or corporate
donations. As expected, the majority of the specialty equipment is located in
the Ocular Disease module. The imaging suite and its contents were previously
described in this report. A room in the Ocular Disease module has been
equipped with extensive imaging capabilities that include a slit lamp biomicroscope
and binocular indirect ophthalmoscope that project to a monitor located in
another room. This accommodates a large number of observers without disrupting
the examination. However, each service module maintains state-of-the-art
technology as pertinent to the patient care required in that particular module.
This equipment is important for training students in the latest technology and
for providing the highest quality patient care. The following table lists some
of the latest technology acquired by the School. A description of some of the latest equipment
and technology acquired by the various clinic services is provided in the
following table.
Student survey results indicate that their access to such
specialty equipment is satisfactory (3.65), while faculty were more neutral in
their response (3.14). The issue of
acquiring the latest technology is addressed below in the recommendations.
STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY IN UABSO
CLINICS
|
PRIMARY
CARE |
PEDIATRICS/ BINOCULAR
VISION/ VISUAL
PERCEPTION |
OCULAR
DISEASE / LOW VISION |
CORNEA/ CONTACT
LENS |
|
Epic 2000
Computer Refracting System |
Frequency
Doubling Perimetry |
Visual
Field Machines – 2 Humphrey and 1 FDT |
Humphrey
Atlas Corneal Topographer |
|
Video Slit
lamp |
Visual
therapy computer system |
Electrodiagnostic
Equipment |
MVC digital
imaging system |
|
Topcon lane
(2000) |
Nikon
autorefractor |
Heidelberg
Retinal Tomograph |
Autorefractor
/ autokeratometer |
|
Humphrey
Visual Field (latest capabilities) |
BVAT (2) |
Ultrasonography
(A and B scan capabilities) |
|
|
Optic Nerve
Head Imaging System (Laser Diagnostic Technology) |
Total
refracting system |
Camera with
fluorescein angiography capabilities Non-mydriatic
digital imaging system Anterior
segment camera MVC digital
imaging system, OCT, GDx, Autorefractor
/ autokeratometer, CCTV Paradigm
Ocular Blood Flow Analyzer |
|
7.1.1 The program must provide for the repair, maintenance
and replacement of physical facilities and equipment.
Examples of Evidence (Narrative description):
·
Replacement
policies and schedule
·
Description of
available financial resources for equipment repair and replacement
·
Planned
renovations to the 2nd and 3rd floors of the HPB
The UABSO
Computing and Data Resources group (CADRE) maintains a four year life
cycle/replacement schedule for all user workstations. A four year
warranty is purchased with the acquisition of each new workstation, ensuring
that any failure of the hardware is covered by the manufacturer for the life of
the equipment. To support the workstations in the most efficient manner
possible, all CADRE support technicians are certified by Dell (the preferred
workstation vendor) to perform warranty service, bypass normal customer
troubleshooting processes and order parts directly. The annual CADRE budget is sufficient
to support this maintenance/replacement schedule.
The purchase and
maintenance expense of printers, scanners, laptops and other individualized
equipment is charged to the department of appointment of the particular faculty
or staff member. These peripheral
equipment items are also ordered, installed and configured by CADRE personnel.
Routine equipment
maintenance is performed regularly throughout the UABSO. UAB Eye Care uses orange repair request tags to
identify equipment requiring service by a technician. The orange tag is affixed to the door handle
of the room where the equipment is located allowing the technician to quickly
identify the item and location and also letting others know that the equipment
is in need of repair.
Major equipment
items throughout the UABSO are covered by annual service contracts. These contracts are reviewed annually by the
particular department or unit where the equipment is housed. Equipment is replaced as necessary. The Optometry Teaching Clinic has a separate
Building and Equipment (B&E) account to offset the purchase expense of
equipment replacement. That account is
funded by a student fee specifically identified for that purpose. The largest concentration of major equipment in
the UABSO is housed in the Teaching Clinic.
Almost all equipment in UAB Eye Care was purchased new in 2004 as part
of the total renovation. Functional
lifespan for major optometric equipment is generally greater than 10 years, so
there are no major equipment acquisitions or replacement planned for the
teaching clinic in the next few years.
In the meantime, the Clinic Equipment Replacement Account will be funded
at the end of each fiscal year with revenues from the associated student
fee. When the time comes to replace
equipment in UAB Eye Care, it is anticipated that there will be sufficient
resources in the account to substantially offset the expense.
The issue of
classroom size in the HPB is currently being addressed by an ad hoc planning
committee charged with analyzing needs and developing a project plan. The broad goal is to completely renovate all
classrooms, labs, and offices on the 2nd and 3rd floors
of the HPB within the next three fiscal years.
Economic realities may necessitate a scaled back modification of the
project scope. A report from this
committee is anticipated to be received by April
2009.
Self Study 2008 School Survey Outcomes
Survey questions
relating to 7.1.1 (Repair and Maintenance):
The mean score is based on the following scale: Strongly Agree = 5, Agree
= 4, Neutral = 3, Disagree = 2, Strongly Disagree = 1, Cannot make a judgment: not
scored. All percentage values were
rounded to the nearest whole number.
|
Survey Questions |
Mean Score |
|
Classroom
audio/visual equipment is easy to use |
4.07 |
|
Classroom
audio/visual equipment is well maintained |
4.13 |
|
Classroom
audio/visual equipment meets my needs |
4.18 |
7.2 The program must
provide access to well-maintained library and information facilities,
sufficient in size, breadth of holdings, and information technology to support
the program’s education and other missions.
Examples of
Evidence
Narrative
description of the Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences
Survey of
constituents
·
Electronic
information resources
·
Description of
information technology
·
IT support
services
·
Computer and IT
resources
Lister
Hill Library of the Health Sciences (LHL)
Introduction
Established in
1945, the Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences (LHL) is the largest
biomedical library in Alabama and one of the leading such libraries in the
South. It serves as a Resource Library
in the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) for the
Southeast/Atlantic region. LHL’s
collections span seven centuries of knowledge, beginning with the rare
treasures in the Reynolds Historical Library to the latest in electronic
resources. The library currently
occupies a space of approximately 90,000 square feet.
As is evident
from the picture above, the Lister Hill Library for the Health Sciences is
conveniently located between the Henry Peters Building (HPB) and Volker
Hall. LHL is easily accessible to
students, staff, and faculty. It offers
a full range of services for accessing the Internet, studying, scanning,
printing, and photocopying. In addition,
there are 83 public computers, laptops that can be checked out, and an
electronic classroom with 30 computers and a trainer station. Each computer is equipped with Microsoft
Office 2007. There are also two
computers for users to download or install their own software and
programs. The library has seven group
study rooms, each equipped with a networked computer and whiteboard. An AskIT help desk, part of UAB’s Information
Technology unit which provides free computer support for the UAB community, is
located on the first floor of the library.
The university’s Instructional Technology unit is located on the
library’s ground floor.
The optometry
and vision science holdings are integrated into the health sciences library
collection and are organized according to the National Library of Medicine
classification scheme. Since the time of
the last accreditation visit, LHL has increased the number of electronic
journals to more than 5,000 titles for the health sciences; 105 of these are
optometry and ophthalmology titles. Students
and faculty have access to almost 400 databases and resources and 2,587
electronic books. In total, the
library’s print and media collection has grown to 338,876 volumes, all of which
can be located through the Horizon integrated library system. Much of the library’s collection is available
online, minimizing visits to the physical library. Faculty, staff, and students can readily
access electronic journals, books, and databases from their computers both on
and off campus.
Facilities
LHL established
a Space Planning Task Force to review the library’s facilities and services in
order to repurpose space to better meet users’ needs. The Task Force relocated older reference
materials from the first floor and will be consolidating various service
points, including circulation, reference, and collection access services, in
January 2009. The Task Force has also
proposed the addition of a coffee/snack cart and new carpeting, which will be
implemented when financially feasible.
Collections
Journals: LHL currently
provides access to 105 vision-related electronic journals and 70 print
journals. The library maintains current
online access to 46 of the 49 (94%) journals listed on the “Opening Day
Recommended Journal List” for vision science libraries compiled by the
Association of Vision Science Librarians (AVSL). Articles can be downloaded and printed from
on or off campus. The library offers an
Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad) service for articles from journals not available
from LHL. A list of the library’s electronic journals is located at http://www.uab.edu/lister/ejournals/index.htm.
Books: LHL has 112 of the 144 (77%) books on the
AVSL “Opening Day Recommended Book List” for vision science libraries. The library provides access to more than 2,500
electronic books, with 31 pertaining directly to optometry or vision science.
Electronic
Resources: LHL provides electronic access to a number of
major biomedical databases including AccessMedicine, Cumulative Index to
Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Library, Dissertation
Abstracts, Drug Facts & Comparisons, Essential Evidence Plus, Web of
Science (including Journal Citation Reports and Science Citation Index),
MDConsult, PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, STAT!Ref, UpToDate, and VisualDX. In total, the UAB libraries provide access to
more than 400 databases and resources.
Databases and
Resources: The
UAB libraries provide access to 400 databases and resources. A list of LHL’s primary resources and
databases is available at http://www.uab.edu/lister/tools. The Sterne Library’s list of databases and
resources is located at https://www.mhsl.uab.edu/databases.
Special
Collections:
The UAB Historical Collections unit under the direction of LHL consists of
three departments: the Reynolds Historical Library, the Alabama Museum of the
Health Sciences, and the UAB Archives.
The Reynolds Historical Library contains more than 13,000 volumes and is
nationally recognized for its rare books, incunabula, and medieval manuscripts. The Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences was
established to document the development of health science education, practice,
and research in Alabama. The UAB
Archives contains approximately 2,300 linear feet of document storage. This facility houses the papers of charter
Dean Henry B. Peters. In addition,
Historical Collections offers a variety of educational programs such as an
historical lecture series throughout the academic year as well as annual
Reynolds Research Fellowships. See
www.uab.edu/historical for more information about the UAB Historical
Collections.
Other: LHL supplements its collections by utilizing
the resources of many other libraries through cooperative agreements. The following are institutions and consortia
that impact LHL collections:
UAB’s Mervyn H.
Sterne Library: Cooperative collection
growth includes joint purchases of electronic resources, development of an
institutional repository for electronic theses and dissertations, and UAB
digital collections that include letters from Florence Nightingale. See https://www.mhsl.uab.edu/index.html for more
information.
Alabama Public
Library Service (APLS): The APLS mission
is to promote and support equitable access to library and information resources
and services to enable all Alabamians to satisfy their educational, working,
cultural, and leisure-time interests. See http://www.apls.state.al.us for more
information.
Consortium of
Southern Biomedical Libraries (CONBLS):
As a member of CONBLS, LHL participates in activities that include
reciprocal interlibrary loans, cooperative purchasing and licensing of
electronic resources, and supporting mutual interests in health sciences
librarianship. See http://www.uab.edu/conbls for more
information.
Health InfoNet
of Alabama: Health InfoNet is a free
consumer health information service of the Alabama public and medical
libraries. It began in 1999 as a local
service to Jefferson County residents and expanded to the entire state in
2004. That same year, Health InfoNet was
chosen to participate in the MedlinePlus Go Local program, allowing users of
MedlinePlus health information to link to Health InfoNet’s local health
services and resources throughout the state.
See http://www.healthinfonet.org for more
information.
National
Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM):
LHL is a Resource Library of the Southeastern/Atlantic region of the
NN/LM and participates in DOCLINE, an automated interlibrary loan request
system for resource sharing. As a
Resource Library, LHL is responsible for providing resources to health
practitioners in the state who do not have library access. See http://nnlm.gov for more
information.
Network of
Alabama Academic Libraries (NAAL): NAAL’s purpose is to coordinate a statewide
program to strengthen and share academic library resources to support education
and research. See http://www.ache.state.al.us./NAAL for more
information.
Funding
The
Lister Hill Library collections budget for FY 2008-2009 was reduced by 14% to
adjust to the decrease in state appropriations.
Consequently, LHL has had to make reductions in collection
spending. The faculty has identified
essential vision science journal titles to be acquired for 2009. LHL plans to renew those titles for
2009. The Library has set up a website
with the list of journals to be canceled as well as information on the process
for identifying such journals. See http://www.lhl.uab.edu/collections for more
information.
Statistical Highlights
|
Monograph
Volumes |
128,839 |
|
Print
Journals |
9,319 |
|
Electronic
Journals |
50,000 |
|
Electronic
Journals in the Health Sciences |
5,200 |
|
Audio/Visual
|
562 |
|
Databases
and Resources |
375 |
|
Percent
of “Opening Day” Books List |
77% |
|
Percent
of “Opening Day” Journals List |
94% |
|
Number
of Vision-Related Journals (both print and electronic) |
163 |
|
Print
Monographs Expenditures |
$10,000 |
|
Serials
Expenditures |
$1,235,000 |
|
Electronic
Books Expenditures |
$95,000 |
Self Study 2008 School Survey Outcomes
Survey question
relating to 7.2 (Library Facilities):
The mean score is based on the following scale: Strongly Agree = 5, Agree
= 4, Neutral = 3, Disagree = 2, Strongly Disagree = 1, Cannot make a judgment:
not scored. All percentage values were
rounded to the nearest whole number.
|
Survey Questions |
Mean Score |
||
|
The
services available through the Lister Hill Library meet/met my needs |
4.32 |
4.31 |
3.69 |
While students
showed the least positive response, all groups indicated that the Lister Hill
Library services met their needs.
7.3 The
library and information services staff must be supportive of the needs of the faculty,
residents and students of the program.
Examples of
Evidence:
·
Hours of
library service
·
Organizational
chart for library
·
Information
resource services available
Lister
Hill Library of the Health Sciences (LHL)
Library
Liaison Program with Optometry
LHL maintains a
liaison program with the university’s health-related schools, including the
School of Optometry. The current
Optometry Liaison is Nicole Mitchell, a reference librarian on Lister Hill
Library’s faculty holding the rank of Instructor. Ms. Mitchell has a master’s degree in history
as well as a master’s in library and information studies. In addition to the general functions of the
library liaison program (illustrated in the chart below), the Optometry Liaison
also serves as an official representative to the ASCO Informatics SIG and the
Association of Vision Science Librarians (AVSL). Each year, the Optometry Liaison conducts a
90-minute overview session for all entering optometry students on library
research skills and services available through the UAB libraries. Ms. Mitchell has developed a webpage
dedicated to the School of Optometry at http://www.lhl.uab.edu/optometry/
|
Liaison
Program Objectives |
|
Services
The Library is open 94.5 hours per week
according to the following schedule:
Monday-Thursday,
7:00 am to 11:00 pm
Friday,
7:00 am to 7:00 pm
Saturday,
9:30 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday,
12:00 pm to 10:00 pm
The library offers numerous services to
UAB faculty, staff, and students. A more
detailed list of services is located at http://www.uab.edu/lister/services.
|
Service |
Guidelines |
|
|
|
|
Resources |
|
|
Equipment & Technology |
|
|
Document Delivery & Interlibrary
Loan (ILLiad) |
|
|
Educational & Reference Services |
|
Staffing
|
Staff (FTE) |
Number |
|
Librarians/Professionals |
19 |
|
Library
Support Staff Monthly |
6.1 |
|
Clerical
Staff |
22.2 |
|
Students/Hourly |
4.5 |
|
Total, all staff |
51.8 |
Self Study 2008 School Survey Outcomes
Survey
question relating to 7.3 (Library Staff):
The mean score is based on the following scale: Strongly Agree = 5, Agree
= 4, Neutral = 3, Disagree = 2, Strongly Disagree = 1, Cannot make a judgment:
not scored. All percentage values were
rounded to the nearest whole number.
As with the
question about the library facilities, responses were positive and again more
positive by faculty than students.
Standard VII: List of Hyperlinked Documents and Pages
|
Document/Page |
Hyperlink |
Reference
in Report |
|
UABSO Computer and Data Resources (CADRE)
Organizational Chart |
7.1 |
|
|
CV for CADRE Director |
7.1 |
|
|
UABSO ACOE Standard VIII Report |
7.1 |
|
|
Lister
Hill Library (LHL) Electronic Journals |
7.2 |
|
|
LHL
Primary Resources and Databases |
7.2 |
|
|
Sterne
Library Databases and Resources |
7.2 |
|
|
Sterne
Library Additional Resources |
7.2 |
|
|
Alabama
Public Library Service |
7.2 |
|
|
Consortium
of Southern Biomedical Libraries |
7.2 |
|
|
Health
Infonet of Alabama |
7.2 |
|
|
National
Network of Libraries of Medicine |
7.2 |
|
|
Network
of Alabama Academic Libraries |
7.2 |
|
|
Journal
Cancellations at LHL |
7.2 |
|
|
LHL-Optometry
Liaison Program |
7.3 |
|
|
LHL
Services |
7.3 |
|
|
2008 Self Study Survey Data |
7.1
– 7.3 |
|
|
2008 Self Study Alumni Survey Data Grouped by
Graduation Year |
2008
Self Study Alumni Survey Data Grouped by Graduation Year |
7.1
– 7.3 |