[Survey of the current state of order-entry systems in the nuclear medicine field].
OBJECTIVE
In the "Grand Design for Computerization of the Medical Field" of December, 2001, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare set a numerical target for the adoption of electronic medical charts nationwide in at least 60% hospitals with 400 or more beds. Therefore, the introduction and operation of an order-entry system, which is necessary for establishing electronic medical charts, became essential for each of these medical facilities. We surveyed the current state of order-entry systems for nuclear medicine, which are considered difficult to introduce owing to the particulars of their operation, and herewith report the results.


METHODS
Questionnaires with a request for cooperation were sent by mail to 119 facilities nationwide that are engaged in nuclear medicine. The questionnaire surveyed 21 items, including operational status and restrictions of the order-entry system.


RESULTS
The absolutely essential restriction settings for the introduction and operation of an order-entry system were not being used, and the scheduling of tests was being conducted on the basis of human judgment.


CONCLUSIONS
The development of an order-entry system that includes standardization of basic specifications (restrictions) according to the content and work are necessary for nuclear scans, for which the introduction and operation of an order-entry system can cause concern owing to the particulars of operation in the field of radiation.
Hara
Narihiro
N
Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University.
Onoguchi
Masahisa
M
Takayama
Teruhiko
T
Honda
Minoru
M
D006751:Hospital Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D050316:Medical Order Entry Systems / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D009683:Nuclear Medicine; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires