Doctors and the Development of Hospital Computer Systems : a Case Study, 1981-1985

<p>Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.</p>A computer system was introduced into the outpatient's clinic of a hospital in the Midlands in 1981, under the leadership of a consultant. The objective of the system was to replace the hand-written case notes with printed, structured reports and clinical summaries on patients. It also sought to make available facilities for analysing clinical data on groups of patients, in order to facilitate higher standards of patient care and to stimulate medical research. <br> <br> The aim of the research was threefold; firstly it was to study the impact of the computer-based medical record system on the clinical work processes within an outpatient clinic. Secondly it was to study the politics of the decision-making processes involved within the district and the hospital. Finally it was to identify and analyse the responses of the doctors to the computer system. The research method consisted mainly of interviews with a sample of consultants on three separate occasions; once prior to computerisation, again one month after computerisation and again five months later. in addition a number of junior doctors were interviewed, one month after taking up their post. A total of 32 interviews were deposited.<br><B>Main Topics</B>:<br>Medical information systems; computer systems; hospital administration; hospitals; management; medical records; doctors; medical staff; job training.<br>