Implementation of COSTAR in an academic group practice of general pediatrics

High-quality medical care requires a medical record that is complete, legible, and readily available. Information storage and retrieval are often more difficult in academic group practices than in private offices because of the complexity of the delivery system. We implemented a computerized medical record (COSTAR) in our academic group practice in pediatrics, and recorded data on 14,486 visits for preventive health care or illness over an 18-month period. Except when follow-up visits were made within 48 hours of an encounter, a complete medical record was available at all times. The attending staff physicians were enthusiastic about the computer-based record, and after a period of adaptation, the residents were as well. The nurses and clerical staff agreed that it improved office efficiency and thus patient care. Yet the system was abandoned in the face of medical college politics and problems in other practices at our institution.