SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 1983
COMPUTERS FOR STORAGE OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH DATA
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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS TO MODERNISE ITS RECORD- KEEPING, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES WITH THE USE OF COMPUTERS IN STORING VITAL MEDICAL AND HEALTH DATA.
ABOUT $1-MILLION HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON THE COMPUTERISATION OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THERE IS A PRESSING NEED TO USE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY FOR A MORE ACCURATE, RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT MEDICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM.
WITH THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF INPATIENTS AND OUTPATIENTS TREATED IN GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS HAVE INCREASED BY 103 PER CENT AND 63 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
+THIS, TOGETHER WITH THE COMPLEXITY OF TREATMENTS AND EXAMINATIONS AND ACCUMULATION OF RECORDS, HAS DRASTICALLY INCREASED THE COST OF INFORMATION HANDLING AND COMMUNICATION IN TERMS OF MONEY AND TIME, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THERE ARE THREE POTENTIAL AREAS FOR COMPUTER DEVELOPMENT PATIENT CARE, HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION, AND PLANNING AND EVALUATION THE FIRST TWO OF WHICH WILL BE GIVEN URGENT PRIORITY CONSIDERATION.
THE GOVERNMENT DATA PROCESSING AGENCY IS CURRENTLY INVITING
COMPUTER CONSULTANTS TO CARRY OUT THE STUDY.
THE OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF THE CONSULTANT STUDY INCLUDE:
* RECOMMENDING HOSPITAL PROCEDURES WHICH COULD BE EFFECTIVELY
IMPROVED BY COMPUTER AIDS TO PROVIDE MORE EFFICIENT SERVICES.
* PREPARING FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATION OF THE PROCEDURES,
PARTICULARLY THE ADMISSION/DISCHARGE/TRANSFER (ADT) FOR PATIENTS,
PROVIDING A DETAILED COST AND BENEFIT ANALYSIS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSED PROCEDURE.
* ESTABLISHING THE VIABILITY, WITH REFERENCE TO ITS PROBLEMS AND BENEFITS, OF CAPTURING PATIENTS' DATA RELATED TO THE IR MEDICAL HISTORY FOR INCLUSION IN THE COMPUTER ISED MEDICAL REPORTS.
* CONSIDERING THE PORTABILITY OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM FOR
OTHER HOSPITALS IN HONG KONG.
/THE SPOKESMAN
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