An electrocardiogram database incorporated into the hospital information system

A database system was developed for storing and retrieving electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretations made by the Bonner program. One ECG record consists of the patient identification information, measurement matrix, and interpretive statements made by the program and by the reviewing cardiologist. The logical structure of the database is 3-level hierarchy. An ECG record is automatically inserted into the database when an ECG signal is analysed by the program. Stored ECG records can easily be retrieved using any parameter and qualifier for review, research and education. The physician can gather statistics on the parameters and qualifiers of the extracted ECG records using statistical program packages (BDMP, SCSS) and a decision support system (AS). Since the database management system is DL/I, the newly developed system can be transferred to various computers, and the relationships between the ECG findings and clinical records stored in the DL/I form can easily be studied.