June 2, 2005

Facing a scary medical diagnosis?

PlaneTree Medical library offers free comprehensive health, medical information

By Louise Cate
Special to the Times

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a complex medical or mental condition and you are confused by your doctor’s explanation or need more information about treatment plans there is a free community resource available within miles of Almaden Valley.

The entrance to the PlaneTree library at Mission Oaks Hospital.

PlaneTree is a comprehensive consumer health and medical library, located on the first floor in Mission Oaks Hospital. PlaneTree is a nonprofit community service, supported by Good Samaritan Hospital and is free and open to the public.

The library is open Tuesday and Thursday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional information, a map and directions to the library, check their Web site: www.planetreesanjose.org.

The PlaneTree Library slogan is: “Walk in with questions. Walk out with confidence.”

The library has a guest comment book, which contains numerous testimonials written by people who found what they needed at the library. The following are excerpts from a few of those testimonials:

“…After being scared stiff in the ER, PlaneTree Library is like coming to Grandma’s place…”

“…PlaneTree helps me to know what questions to ask and to understand better what the doctors are telling us…”

“…This is the place I think of first when I’m facing a medical crisis and I have a need for information…”

“…Thank you—a magnificent resource! Much more effective than the Internet…”

The PlaneTree library provides the following six types of medical resources:

1. Computer services with Internet access, including health sites not publicly available.

2. An extensive collection of health and medical journals.

3. Twenty-four file drawers filled with current research articles on more than 700 topics.

4. More than 3,000 of the latest health books, medical texts, and videos, including conventional and complementary therapies.

5. Spanish and Vietnamese materials (bilingual assistance available).

6. And best of all, personalized help from medical librarians and expert volunteers. Fourteen volunteers continued to work at the library after the facility moved from San Jose to Los Gatos two years ago.

The library with Rita Halper, volunteer, smiling and looking at the camera while Oralia Tercero, administrative assistant, is typing.

Rita Halper explained why she volunteers at the library: “I like helping our clients become armed with information.” Before becoming a volunteer, Rita worked in the medical field for more than years. When she retired, she considered how best to balance her life.

Because a medical problem introduced her to PlaneTree, she decided to volunteer at the library, where she enjoys helping others and being intellectually challenged.

The PlaneTree Library is located in Mission Oaks Hospital at 15891 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd., Los Gatos. For additional information, call the library director, Candace Ford, at (408) 358-5667.

Louise Cate is a freelance writer who lives in Almaden Valley.