Computerization of a hospital waiting-list.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Hospital Information Systems
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, is a large acute teaching facility.
• The hospital faces challenges managing an active patient waiting list.
• Existing systems may not adequately address specific hospital operational needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the development of a stand-alone, single-user microcomputer software.
• To detail the methods employed in creating the hospital management system.
• To evaluate the advantages and challenges encountered with the in-house developed software.

Main Methods:

• In-house software development for a microcomputer.
• Implementation of a stand-alone, single-user system.
• Analysis of system implementation, including methods, benefits, and drawbacks.

Main Results:

• Successful development of custom software for waiting list management.
• Identification of specific advantages offered by the tailored system.
• Documentation of problems and limitations encountered during development and use.

Conclusions:

• In-house microcomputer software can be effectively developed for specific hospital needs.
• Tailored systems offer potential advantages in managing hospital waiting lists.
• Careful consideration of methods, advantages, and problems is crucial for successful implementation.