Reducing the paper load: computer-based patient records

Physicians burdened with increasing paper work may find relief in computer-based patient records (CPR). CPRs may aid clinicians in the areas of billing, documentation, reporting, and data retrieval. Value-added features like decision support and event monitoring facilitate patient outcome, decrease health care costs and allow improved administration. The authors discuss obstacles in the use of computers in patient care with a focus on security, confidentiality, and Y2K.