A system for the management of clinical information in orthopaedics

Clinical research in orthopedics is especially dependent upon long-term patient studies. The meticulous, time consuming record keeping which such studies require is often prohibitive. Primarily to resolve this dilemma, but also to improve the organization and use of published biomedical literature in an academic, orthopedic department, a Clinical Information System is useful. The system is coordinated by a medical librarian with experience in information management. Computers are used to optimize the storage and retrieval of both patient generated data and biomedical publications data. Most significantly, the system allows for the orderly collection and storage of clinical data for prospective studies while minimizing the amount of time which the orthopedist must devote to such activities. The overall impact of a Clinical Information System is the spawning of a clinical environment which stresses the importance of documented evidence in patient care and which encourages participation in activities which produce such documentation.