The hospital information system: a physician's perspective

In creating a computerized system to process its ever-increasing amounts of patient information, Holy Cross Hospital, Detroit, considered physicians' needs. It used three sets of observations to determine medical staff priorities: review of information flow in the diagnostic, patient care, and medical records departments; medical staff interviews; and experience with a physician-oriented computerized laboratory reporting system. These observations revealed mutual departmental needs; physicians' need for a clear, accurate summary of new patient data, with ready access via terminals; and the need for several report formats, including ward, summary, cumulative, and interpretative reports. Physicians input is essential to prioritize daily reports. A keyboard option that allows data processing staff to change formats easily is also important. All patient data must be computerized and the resulting computer reports have three basic parts: patient demographic data; the body, which contains basic information and observations; and the conclusion or summary. In developing reports, the staff must consider technological differences between departments and changing demands as physicians become familiar with the potential of computerized data.