Computerization of general practices and quality control. Blood glucose regulation in type 2 diabetics investigated in the Registration Network family practices.
The extent to which computerized medical administration facilitates quality control was studied using as an example the quality of blood glucose regulation in diabetics supervised by general practitioners in 11 computerized practices. Systematic use of the general practice computer rapidly provided an unequivocal answer that 37% of such patients were not regulated in accordance with the guidelines for type 2 diabetes mellitus of the Dutch College of General Practitioners. The extra workload for the participating general practitioners was minimal. Automated recording of problem lists, as applied in the general practices belonging to the Registration Network, facilitates access to data on chronic diseases and risk factors for purposes of research, quality control and quality assessment.
Höppener
P
P
Department of General Practice, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Knottnerus
J A
JA
Grol
R
R
Metsemakers
J F
JF
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000502:physiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy*; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D011786:Quality Control; D012984:Software
D001786:Blood Glucose