Design considerations for a medical school hospital cancer patient data system

Tumor registries abound, but there are few that successfully incorporate information age data management resources. This article describes the evolutionary process of designing, implementing, and maintaining a computer-based cancer patient information system for a medical school hospital. The primary requirement was that accurate information about the cancer experience at University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) be readily available. Since the tumor registry staff were not data processing professionals, this system had to use commonly available, well documented, readily maintained, and easily used data management resources. The UTMB registry, as documented by the marked increase in frequency and scope of use, demonstrates that a quality information resource can have a significant impact on hospital cancer programs and could serve as a prototype for other institutions having similar needs.