Automated multiphasic health testing: a diagnosis in three parts. Part I: Development of multiphasic health testing

Automated Multiphasic Health Testing (AMHT) is a sophisticated, computer-based technique for patient data gathering, analysis, storage, and print-out. The technique has been erroneously associated in the minds of physicians with the single application of population health "screening" while it is, infact, broadly applicable to the entire health-care delivery process. During the past several years, the technique of AMHT has been refined, and computer-based systems have been applied to medical functions such as hospital pre-admission testing, the performance of triage in the HMO environment, and the development of patient histories and physiological data in the outpatient clinic. Such applications have been shown to reduce cost and increase physician productivity. This paper traces the history of AMHT over the past decade as seen through the eyes of a participant, from within the medical industry. A case is presented in this three-part paper for the use of AMHT techniques as basic tools in containing health-care costs and in providing expanded medical care throughout the United States.