[Development of perinatal management system using optical card and regional health information network]

In Kagawa Prefecture, a perinatal management system using the optical medical card and the information network has been introduced since October 1998. Four hospitals(Kagawa Medical University, Sakaide Municipal Hospital, Uchinomi Town Hospital and Tsuda Prefectural Hospital) are connected with each other through the health information network(Kagawa Health and Welfare Information Network) organized by Kagawa Prefecture. (http://www.hw.kagawa-swc.or.jp/net/) Patients' clinical data are described on the optical card based on the "standard format of the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists(JAOG). (http://www.jaog.or.jp/JAPANESE/MEMBERS/JOUHOU/H10/index.htm). Clinical information including the fetal heart rate(FHR) and sonography (JPG) can be easily transmitted through this network(on line). Without the network, patient data can also be transmitted using the optical card(off line). There are still many technical and social problems to be solved in the future, research into the use of medical information network should be continued.