The pocket medical record--do we need a centralized medical data base?

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Health Information Technology

Background:

• Centralized digital medical databases face challenges in data transfer and adaptability.
• Need for efficient and accessible patient medical records.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a microprocessor-generated portable medical record system.
• To assess its utility as an alternative to centralized databases.

Main Methods:

• Physician and nurse-led processing and selection of medical information.
• Direct computer entry facilitated by specialized software.
• Implementation in multiple medical institutions.

Main Results:

• The portable medical database system demonstrated usefulness in inter-institutional medical information transfer.
• The system proved adaptable to diverse practice settings.
• Software aided in speed and accuracy of data input.

Conclusions:

• Microprocessor-generated portable medical records are a viable alternative to centralized systems.
• The system enhances medical information exchange and is flexible for various clinical environments.