Real-time record management in general practice

The primary objectives of the Exeter Community Health Services Computer Project ('the Project') are to help provide better patient care and improved efficiency in both administrative and clinical procedures and to make available facilities for management and research. These objectives are achieved by a computer system that creates a community based Integrated Patient Record (IPR) which satisfies the needs of doctors, nurses and administrative staff both in hospitals and Health Centres. The IPR is accessed and maintained by all these users via visual display units (ICL Mark II VDU) and hard copy printers (Termiprinters) linked to a real-time communications network. This paper concentrates on the applications of the Project used in Health Centres, where General Practitioners share premises with District Nurses, Health Visitors, Social Workers and other members of the Community Health Care Team.