Mercer University School of Medicine Medical Library & Learning Resources Center
awarded for the success of GaIN: The Georgia Interactive Network for Medical Information 1983 to 2003

GaIN was established in 1983 by Dr. Jocelyn A. Rankin with a National Library of Medicine grant. Jan H. LaBeause has continued the good work. The network is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, making it the oldest statewide network of its kind in the country. The Medical Library and Learning Resources Center of Mercer University School of Medicine serve as the hub of GaIN.

Gain was designed as a model for a statewide computer-based medical information network to provide clinical and research information to students and primary care practitioners at the hospital or practice site. It was also intended to assist in meeting the larger goal of improving the health care delivery system in rural and underserved areas of Georgia. Currently, there are over 1,000 individual members and 80 Institutional members, including all six Georgia AHECs as well as the state program office, small rural community hospitals, large urban medical centers and health systems, public health departments, technical schools, state colleges, public libraries, state agencies, private practice clinics, and a sports medicine foundation.

GaIN has been recognized previously by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Medical Library Association as an example of an academic initiative to address physician needs in rural areas and a technological innovation.