Implementing computerized tracking at a community health center: challenges and solutions.
A computerized tracking system for both preventive care and chronic disease tracking was implemented at a community health center, using a PC based local area network interfaced with a mainframe scheduling and billing system. Initial database construction used downloads of historical billing data, but ongoing database maintenance is accomplished by using an optical mark-sense scanner to construct both billing and clinical tracking files from custom-designed encounter forms. In this way, expanded clinical data is collected with an actual reduction in manually keyed data, reducing the ongoing cost of the system.
Moran
W P
WP
Department of Internal Medicine, Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, NC.
Wofford
J L
JL
Hamrick
V
V
Myers
B T
BT
Cooper
J
J
Doby
J
J
FitzGerald
K
K
Spence
C
C
Velez
R
R
D000555:Ambulatory Care Information Systems / Q000191:economics; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003201:Computers; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008122:Local Area Networks; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000191:economics; D009657:North Carolina; D012984:Software