How computers are improving patient care. An overview of ways that computerization directly aids the provision of...

Computerization of patient care is steadily increasing. Computers are an integral part of most clinical equipment, and ordinary personal computers are in growing use to run stand-alone clinical software. Further, the information systems that every hospital uses for financial and administrative functions are becoming integrated with those used for information management in diagnostic imaging, laboratory medicine, and other clinical services, allowing hospitalwide flow of information. Hospitals can improve quality of care by moving toward more widespread computerization.