Practical applications of OCIS, a clinical information system for oncology

The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center has developed OCIS , a computer based data system to aid medical personnel in making clinical decisions. All patients seen in the Center are entered into the system. Data is collected, analyzed and presented in formats designed to show the relationship between related clinical and laboratory data. Graphic plots are used to facilitate the detection of long and short term trends in the changing clinical status of individual patients. The system also provides major support for clinical research. An example of the use of this system is presented using data from patients with multiple myeloma.