Scott Wallace did a fine job describing some of the problems and benefits of a computerized patient record system (May). The most difficult hurdle in the whole process, however, will be helping physicians on-board. I recently attempted to assist a pediatrician in keeping a database of his patients' records, but he was overwhelmed by it all and gave up. Doctors are trained to provide medical care and have no time to double as data-entry clerks. A way must be found to get the necessary data into useful digital formats easily. Then we will have to figure out a cheap way to put reams of hard copy data sitting in millions of file cabinets all around the country into appropriate databases--or the only people with complete medical profiles will be those who were born yesterday.
Devin Struck
Cleveland, WI
Flexible C++
Matthew Wilson
My approach to software engineering is far more pragmatic than it
is
theoretical--and no language better exemplifies this than C++.
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Helping Physicians On-Board
