Automation of practice management in a Lebanese University Health Clinic

Interest in technology and the recognition that clinical practice analysis data is crucial for planning have stimulated the development of information management solutions at all levels in developing countries. The spectrum of such endeavors remains restrained due to the limitations in human resources skills. This paper describes an inexpensive operation for automating practice analysis in a Lebanese University Health Clinic. The system was developed in piecemeal fashion to accommodate the needs of the staff and their computer expertise. It demonstrates the impact of such automation on patient care, including missing medical records, appointment scheduling, referral rates, and repeat prescriptions.