[Use of palm-top computers within the scope of medical data collection and quality assurance]

Computerisation of the medical profession is advancing particularly as the reform of the German medical system is underway and efforts to maintain high quality standards are being made. More and more clinics and private physicians store the data, which they collect in their daily work, in digital form and exchange it via electronic networks. But lacking overall concepts and resistance from monopolistic structures prevent the introduction of innovative technologies, which would allow convenient data collection "on the fly", patterned after proven work routines. This could lead to a real relief from the daily paper work. New approaches using available hard- and software developed abroad demonstrate medical palmtop computing on the Apple Newton.