The use of a micro-computer system in a lung function testing laboratory

Area of Science:

• Medical Technology
• Clinical Diagnostics
• Pulmonary Medicine

Background:

• Routine lung function testing is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring respiratory diseases.
• Manual processing of lung function test results is time-consuming and prone to errors.
• Integrating computer systems into clinical laboratories can improve efficiency and data management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation and utility of an affordable microcomputer system in a district general hospital's lung function testing laboratory.
• To evaluate the system's capability in automating the calculation, reporting, and data management of pulmonary function tests.

Main Methods:

• A microcomputer system, including a floppy disk drive and printer (approx. 2000 pounds), was utilized.
• The system was programmed to perform calculations, generate typed reports, and provide automated commentaries.
• Functionality included filing current results and searching/tabulating historical patient data.

Main Results:

• The computer successfully calculated and typed lung function test results, including normal values and percentages.
• Automated commentary generation on test results was achieved.
• Efficient filing, searching, and tabulation of patient data were demonstrated, enabling patient listing by characteristics.

Conclusions:

• An inexpensive microcomputer system can be effectively integrated into routine hospital lung function testing.
• The system significantly enhances laboratory efficiency through automated data processing, reporting, and retrieval.
• This technology offers a cost-effective solution for improving pulmonary function test management in clinical settings.