The role of information technology in evidenced-based practice

Clinical Computing is a natural tool for evidence-based practice. Automated self-report produces accurate clinical assessments both in research and clinical settings, thus assuring that patients in each satisfy the same symptom criteria. The Electronic Medical Record (EMR) eventually will form a real-time Information bridge between research and clinical settings. Despite substantial literature demonstrating the efficacy of clinical computing in psychiatric care and research, however, psychiatrists have been slow to adopt computers, and research has dwindled. The steady emergence of system-wide EMRs, will spark a resurgence.