A versatile, inexpensive and intuitive off-the-shelf computer system for diabetes clinic audit

✍ Scribed by Levy, A

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1993
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 353 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1357-8170
• DOI: 10.1002/pdi.1960100510

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Personal computer systems have now advanced to such a degree that facilities previously available only to computer buffs can be readily accessed by the layman. A simple, versatile and inexpensive data handling programme File Maker Pro^TM^ (Claris) has been used to set up a straightforward diabetes clinic audit system which can be used to generate letters to general practictioners and to automatically calculate parameters such as BMI, GFR and mean HBA~1c~. The computer file is arranged as if each patient's record is a single A4‐sized sheet in a ring‐bound pad. A letter is typed (from dictation) in the usual way into the space provided and a few simple physical and biochemical data entered. The collected data can be sorted by any of the parameters listed to facilitate audit and the format of the file changed at any time without disturbing pre‐existing data. Because the unsorted output of the system is clinic letters, much of the data entry can be carried out by the existing secretariat with little extra effort, and as the system would be physically based with the secretaries, the ambience and business of the clinic would be left undisturbed.