Current status of a medical information system

A pilot medical information system is being implemented and currently is providing services for limited categories of patient data. In one year, physicians' diagnoses for 500,000 office visits, 300,000 drug prescriptions for outpatients, one million clinical laboratory tests, and 60,000 multiphasic screening examinations are being stored in and retrieved from integrated, direct access, patient computer medical records.This medical information system is a part of a long-term research and development program. Its major objective is the development of a multifacility computer-based system which will support eventually the medical data requirements of a population of one million persons and one thousand physicians. The strategy employed provides for modular development. The central system, the computer-stored medical records which are therein maintained, and a satellite pilot medical data system in one medical facility are described.