PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Computer Systems”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Development of computer systems for endoscopic surgery.

The use of computer technology in endoscopic surgery is a necessity if more advanced and high quality minimal invasive operations are to be performed. Since safety and reliability are a major issue in medical applications, the development of computer systems has to follow a systematic procedure including quality assurance and be supervised by project management as employed in such safety-relevant areas as aerospace and nuclear energy. An overview of the early phases of this development process and of the major tests during the process is presented.

Computer Simulation↗

Staging prostate cancer with MR imaging: a combined radiologist-computer system.

PURPOSE: To test the accuracy of a combined radiologist-computer system in the diagnosis with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of cancer of the prostate gland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The combined system was developed and tested by four specialists in prostate MR imaging and five radiologists expert in body MR imaging. Each group read MR images obtained in 100 proved cases of prostate cancer. The images were obtained from two sources, and all were obtained with an endorectal surface coil. Prostate MR specialists ranked imaging features of cases to develop a checklist for image interpretation. Features with greatest diagnostic value were incorporated in the combined system. Accuracy measures were derived from the area index of the receiver operating characteristic curve for the combined system and compared with those of radiologists working alone. RESULTS: Body MR radiologists had a mean baseline accuracy of 0.67; mean accuracy of their combined system was 0.80. The prostate MR specialists, when they rated the features in each case, had a mean accuracy of 0.81; the accuracy of their combined system was 0.87. CONCLUSIONS: A combined radiologist-computer system substantially improved accuracy of body MR radiologists in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. High levels of accuracy were also achieved by the system with prostate MR specialists.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted↗

Experimental identification of technical and database factors that can affect the success of clinical computer systems.

The entry of clinical data into computer systems is an extremely demanding form of transaction processing. High speed is important, especially if the collection involves real-time data. Clinicians must feel that they intuitively understand a system and that it is responsive. Medical data must be easily accommodated without sacrificing accuracy or completeness. Most systems cannot do this. Clinical systems that involve on-line storage of data from patients should employ data-base technology. Systems that lack any of the following capabilities will not succeed: manual data entry, a data dictionary, a file system, utility functions, ad hoc query, and a statistical report generator. These general capabilities must satisfy a number of specific functional requirements if the entire system is to be a success. A group of such requirements have been experimentally validated. These will be discussed and a more comprehensive list presented.

Computer Systems↗

Point-of-service computer system and drug-use evaluation: implications for pharmacy practice in ambulatory care.

The point-of-service (POS) computer system and its possible effects on ambulatory-care pharmacy practice are described. The POS system, a key component of the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act, is an electronic claims-transmittal device to be installed in community pharmacies. The system transmits information about the patient and the prescribed drug to a claims processor, which verifies the eligibility of the patient for Medicare drug benefits, determines the amount of payment allowed, and sends information back to the POS terminal in less than 30 seconds. Because prescription information can be consolidated into a central data pool, drug-use patterns can be reviewed. The system will also permit automated screening of drug-drug interactions. Problems posed by the POS system relate to (1) the lack of a claims-transmittal device that can communicate with all claims processors, (2) the lack of a direct interface between the POS system and all pharmacy computer systems, (3) the expense of training personnel to operate the POS system, (4) the cost incurred by pharmacies in installing the POS system, and (5) the conflict between protecting the privacy of a patient's drug profile and permitting the monitoring of drug interactions. The catastrophic coverage act proposes that POS data be used to assess the appropriateness of drug use with a focus on outcome and quality-of-care issues; for the full intent of the act to be achieved, the components of an effective drug-use-evaluation program must be employed. Drug-use evaluation should eventually decrease health-care costs and improve quality of care.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ambulatory Care Information Systems↗

A respiratory intensive care unit computing system: clinical experience at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

At Loma Linda University Medical Center we have successfully developed a computerized monitoring system for our respiratory intensive care unit (RICU). Three important goals must be accomplished to achieve success in designing a useful computer system: (1) a workable hardware system must be designed, (2) the hardware and programs must be molded to fit the needs and abilities of the clinicians using the system, and (3) the necessary data must be made available to the system. Our typical applications of the RICU computer system include storage of pathology and clinical laboratory data, management and calculation of hemodynamic variables, census taking, retrieval of information on returning patients, nutritional assessement, monitoring and evaluation of respired gases, assessment of drug administration, interpretation of arterial blood gases and related measurements, and monitoring of EKGs. We believe it is essential to clearly define the needs of a clinical unit and goals of its computer system in order to design and select the proper computer hardware and software.

California↗

A computer system automatic analysis of vectorcardiograms.

This computer system performs the analysis of orthogonal electrocardiograms for vectorcardiographic (VCG) display and classification. The data acquisition can be performed 'on-line' with the complete analysis in 'real-time', or off-line by processing a magnetic tape. The original computational methods for beat averaging and wave recognition are described. Some features, such as the quality of the visual display of the VCG traces, the availability of a measurement matrix allowing the quantitative analysis of the VCG and the use of a data bank for storage, retrieval and statistical studies make this system very efficient for clinical purposes, introducing the concept of 'Computer Assisted Vectorcardiography'.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted↗

Extending the capabilities of a laboratory computer system through cooperative processing.

The concept of cooperative processing within the context of a hospital or laboratory computer systems environment is introduced. Two examples that produce graphical display of laboratory data are described to illustrate cooperative processing's ability to enhance a system's functionality without placing significant additional burden on system resources.

Clinical Laboratory Information Systems↗

Computer system and software of POSITOLOGICA II: a whole body positron emission tomograph.

Since a whole body PET-scanner POSITOLOGICA II was installed at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) in 1982, improvements of the computer system and developments of new software have been continuously made to correspond to clinical requirements. As the result, POSITOLOGICA II possesses one of the most powerful systems and sophisticated software in Japan. This report describes the present status of the computer system and software of POSITOLOGICA II. It also discusses problems which still exist and proposes a future computer system for the PET study.

Brain↗

In search of the perfect laboratory computer system.

Some personal views on the selection of an ideal laboratory computer system are presented in this paper. Topics discussed include a review of some of the essential requirements for the ideal system; a survey of some of the commercial turn-key laboratory computer systems that are available; typical future trends that should be noted; and lastly, some criteria that may be used in the evaluation and selection of the ultimate system.

Canada↗

[Description of a computer system for the emergency medical laboratory (author's transl)].

An original computer system is described, which produces lists of specimens received, work sheets for the technicians and patient reports. The computer system functions continually around the clock and can be operated by laboratory staff. Patients reports are edited in usual units and in SI units, which decreases problems associated with the introduction of the SI system. The inclusion of a preventive quality control increases the quality of the results. Cumulative storage of biological and clinical data makes it possible to perform statistical calculations, and to determine physiological and pathological variations of biochemical components.

Computers↗

Reliable computer systems.

In this article, we looked at some decisions that apply to the design of reliable computer systems. We began with a discussion of several terms such as testability, then described some systems that call for highly reliable hardware and software. The article concluded with a discussion of methods that can be used to achieve higher reliability in computer systems. Reliability and fault tolerance in computers probably will continue to grow in importance. As more and more systems are computerized, people will want assurances about the reliability of these systems, and their ability to work properly even when sub-systems fail.

Computer Systems↗

Implementing a stand-alone packaged pharmacy computer system in a 580-bed hospital.

The problems experienced by a hospital pharmacy department in implementing a stand-alone packaged computer system are discussed, and recommendations for avoiding and managing these problems are presented. In 1984, a stand-alone packaged computer system was implemented in a 580-bed, tertiary-care institution that provides services from a central pharmacy and five satellite pharmacies. The department developed a request for proposal and contracted with a vender for a system that would support unit dose drug distribution and i.v. admixture services. During the implementation process, the following problems were experienced: The hardware was insufficient for the department's workload, the software design was limited, and personnel were frustrated with learning to use the system. These problems were intensified by the heavy workload and the large number of users. In the 18 months since implementation, the department has purchased more hardware, improved the software applications, and resolved many of the problems associated with employee frustration. Pharmacy departments at other large institutions might avoid some of these problems by training personnel adequately before implementation and by researching and estimating hardware and software needs in advance. In this large hospital, the efficiency of a stand-alone packaged pharmacy computer system has improved 18 months after implementation.

Computers↗

CHESS: An interactive computer system for women with breast cancer piloted with an under-served population.

The Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (CHESS) is an interactive computer system containing information, social support and problem solving tools. It was developed with intensive input from potential users through needs-assessment surveys and field testing. CHESS had previously been used by women in the middle and upper socio-economic classes with high school and college education. This article reports on the results of a pilot study involving eight African-American women with breast cancer from impoverished neighborhoods in the city of Chicago. CHESS was very well received, extensively used and produced feelings of acceptance, motivation, understanding and relief.

Adult↗

Computer systems in labor and delivery units. Critical issues.

Although most hospitals use computer systems in other areas, many nurses have had limited hands-on experience with computers. The issues to address when a bedside computer system is selected and introduced into a labor and delivery unit are presented.

Computer User Training↗

Implementing a computer system: issues for nurse administrators.

Because more and more health care agencies are becoming computerized, nursing administrators need to increase their knowledge about computer systems. Specifically, they must have at least some basic knowledge regarding the purchase, implementation, and maintenance of systems, because they and their staff are ultimately affected by them. This article describes how one agency managed the implementation of a new computer system and the issues that the nurse administrator faced during this process.

Computer Literacy↗