Computerized evaluation of clinical experiences in the training of health professionals

The Physician Assistant Program at the University of Southern California School of Medicine in Los Angeles established a computerized data base in 1980 to evaluate the clinical experiences of its students. Data on patient encounters are collected by means of "patient contact cards." The data focus on three main areas: patient demographics, diagnoses/therapeutics, and student responsibility levels. A FORTRAN computer program was written to produce summary reports for individual students as well as for the entire class. The information generated can be used to ensure adequate experience in each clinical area, document the student's background for employers, serve as a basis for curriculum revision, and allow evaluation of the adequacy of clinical services in the community. The computer program is transferable to other institutional locations as well as to other types of health care provider training programs. The design of the patient data system, the computerization process, the implementation of the program, and its applications are discussed.