A computerized information management system for educational programs in the health sciences

The Physician Assistant Program at the University of Florida has developed and implemented a computerized information management system that eliminates time-consuming duplication of effort in record-keeping and covers all functional components of the educational program. Data-base files for admissions, curriculum and/or evaluation design, student records, graduate follow-up, and research activities and a master file for administrative activities permit rapid accessing and transfer of information across files, continual updating of information, and efficient generating of records and reports pertaining to all program functions. Research about the program is enhanced through the correlation of data available in the five data-base files. This comprehensive system facilitates the audit of the program's educational process and the evaluation of its accomplishment of its stated objectives. The system can be easily adapted for use by other educational programs in medicine and the allied health sciences.