Computer Applications in Health Care. NCHSR Research Report Series.

This NCHSR research program in the application of computers in health care--conducted over the ten year span 1968-1978--identified two areas of application research, an inpatient care support system, and an outpatient care support system. Both of these systems were conceived as conceptual frameworks for a related network of projects and ideas that would eventually converge into a real information system. The description of the inpatient care support system includes use of computers in hospital information systems, clinical laboratory systems, radiology, electrocardiography, patient monitoring, and emergency medical care. The section on the outpatient care support system includes use of this technology in ambulatory medical record systems, the physican's office, and telemedicine. In addition, this report describes information support activities, including computerized databanks, computer-based consultation, special hardware, and specific projects aimed at transferring proven technologies to health care settings. A list of technology program projects supported by NCHSR and a selected bibliography are appended. (Author/RAO)