Raised blood pressure and psoriasis.

Male patients with psoriasis in one general practice have a significantly higher blood pressure than males in the general population. Such patients have been compared with the values recorded by Hamilton and colleagues (1954) and with matched pair controls from the same general practice. Statistical analysis using four separate methods has shown a highly significant association between psoriasis and hypertension in males, with close agreement between the tests.

The synopsis record card: a stepping stone to the computer.

A synopsis record card has been developed for use in general practice to provide ready reference to the important facts of the patient's record. When such a card is available in the record wallet it is used at 50% of all patient consultations and significantly reduces the time needed to retrieve past data essential to the consultation. The card contains clinical details, and data on medication, drug idiosyncrasies, immunizations, screening procedures, social, occupational and family history and practice research. As synopsis records are particularly important in teaching practices and when referral letters to hospital or personal medical attendant insurance reports are written, provision has been made for the inclusion of data relevant to those functions. So that the card may act as an intermediary for record computerization, all elements needed in the construction of a computer record have been taken into account. The prototype card was circulated to 3000 RCGP members for comment and the majority of replies were favourable. Suggested modifications have been incorporated in the final design of the card.

An integrated data system for the retail pharmaceutical service.

A machine has been designed for use in a retail pharmacy which counts tablets and records the count beside a machine-read bar code indicating the identity of the drug. Such data could be used for retail stock control and passed on for use by wholesaler, manufacturer and prescription pricing bureau for their routine processes. Thus present processes would be greatly simplified and some other advantages gained.

Retail pharmacy activities and their automation by bar code recorder, tablet counter and remote computer. A feasibility trial.

The advent of mechanical tablet counters in retail pharmacy, and the development of methods of stock control involving mechanical code reading in other forms of retailing have prompted the trail of a machine which combines both these functions with support from a computer. The wide range of activities over which the combined machine can provide assistance to the pharmacist has been explored. An extension of the system utilising the same data would provide the basis for automation of the pharmaceutical wholesaler and manufacturer, and of the prescription pricing bureau.

Writing all prescriptions by computer.

The information needed for safe prescribing is voluminous, complex and subject to continuous change. The computer makes an ideal instrument on which to store, access, and update general practice prescribing information. By using a desktop computer to check and write all prescriptions, it is possible for the general practitioner to build up a medication data base which has the capacity to record response to treatment and to supply information which can be reported to a remote central drug authority on a regular basis.