Construction of an automated health problem inventory.

An Automated Health Problem Inventory was designed to monitor resident exposure, provide access to subgroups of the patient population, allow for study of patient care patterns over time, and aid in health-care evaluation studies. Major design steps such as choosing data and codes are discussed. Data collection documents and data reports are described. Data were collected over a 12-month period in two clinical settings - a model clinic in a residency program and a private practice clinics. These data are displayed by categories of problems and frequency of individual problems. The authors comment on the human and procedural support needed to make a data system useful.

An integrated medical record and data system for primary care. Part 7: the encounter form: problems and prospects for a universal type.

The importance of an encounter form for recording ambulatory patient information is stressed. Certain problems surrounding appropriate definition of the minimum basic data set (MBDS) are discussed as is the potential development of a uniform encounter form which would cover diagnostic information as well as items necessary for insurance companies and internal practice management.

A quantitative computerized recording method in clinical education: a pilot project.

This paper describes an approach to a quantitative computerized method for recording the clinical education experiences of physical therapy students. While the project was conducted in the field of physical therapy, it provides a model that can be adapted to other allied health fields. The objectives, methodology, outcome and future prospects of the project are discussed.

Controlled substances system change provides increased accountability.

The distribution and control systems for controlled substances were evaluated. A mail survey of other hospitals was conducted to obtain samples of control substance systems and the associated procedures. From these samples of existing programs and previous experiences with the current program, a system was designed to meet the needs of an 800-bed hospital with a decentralized pharmacy distribution system. The new distribution and control system completely replaced the prior system. Therefore, new forms and procedures were generated. The total system was implemented in a stepwise procedure in two-week increments over approximately 14 weeks until the entire hospital was converted. The new system has increased control as well as identified workload, inventory utilization, and problem areas.

[Empirical study of the market orientation of veterinarians in The Netherlands]. / Empirisch onderzoek naar de marktgerichtheid van dierenartsen in Nederland.

Linked to the theoretical framework of marketing in the veterinary practice, as explained in Schuurmans and Smidts (1) pp. 1-10 and Schuurmans and Smidts (2), an empirical research project has been undertaken. This research gives insight into the extent to which practices base their services on a marketing orientation. By means of telephone inquiries among a sample of 166 veterinarians, this was investigated. The research shows that veterinarians think more in a product-oriented way than in a market-oriented way, and they do not use all the opportunities a marketing orientation could bring to their services. This expresses itself, among others by not using market segmentation, by the inadequate use of the marketing mix elements communication and distribution, and by the fact that the opportunities of the marketing information system are hardly applied. By means of further research in individual practices it might be possible to give concrete advise fit for that practice. Research among the clients of the veterinarians might, beside many other kinds of research, also give valuable insights.

Radiology film-management systems at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center.

An accurate and efficient x-ray film-retrieval service was needed in the radiology department at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center. In July 1986, the radiology department implemented the radiology film-management system in concert with the surgery department. The centralized radiology film files were replaced by service bins, each containing all inpatient films for a specified surgical service. Physician waiting time, clerical work load, and the number of lost and misplaced films have been reduced, and cost savings to date is $840,000. By mid-1988, the system had been expanded to accommodate more than 90% of radiology users.