Problems of medical record storage with an optical disk filing system--with special reference to image quality

An optical disk filing system is a promising new method to memorize the contents of medical records. However, there are some problems of image quality and durability with the disk. The present study investigated the problems with image quality as to the content of medical records. Two optical disk filing systems on the market were used. Medical records of discharge summary, present illness, progress notes, ECGs and polaroid pictures, were put through the image scanner and compared with output images. Image data such as discharge summary and present illness were clearly reproduced with a resolution of 200 dots per inch (dpi). However, polaroid pictures of UCGs or sketches by doctors needed a resolution of 400 dpi with 32-64 gradations. ECGs needed a resolution of 400 dpi with 2 gradations. Records in more than 2 ink colours such as renograms, nurses' notes and doctors' sketches were reproduced in monochrome images, so the colour signals could not be distinguished. In conclusion, the optical disk filing system is useful to store medical records, but it must be improved so as to distinguish colour information.