Developing cost-efficient information systems for small hospitals.

Abstract

It has been said that the small hospital cannot afford or easily maintain the information systems needed for efficient management. However, Northern Dutchess Hospital, a small institution located in Rhinebeck N.Y., has developed a cost-efficient and effective case-based information system that adequately handles their management needs. By using existing hardware and integrating software that could be easily inter-connected, the hospital created a basic system design without the need for huge financial and personnel investments.