The beauty of net technology is that you as a user don't really need to
know how or where the data is stored. A web interface is a universal
interface to all database systems. Its easy to learn, works the same on
just about every operating system / hardware combination (most of the
time it even works the same on macs and pcs!). Its relatively easy to
bring disparate data sources together in a controlled manner - on a
simple level we try and do this with our lab handbook with context
sensitive links to guidelines databases - (Fair cop! it's my copy of
Jonathans Oxford intranet!)
I think the electronic patient record is attempting to reconcile most of
the problems you mentioned with regard to multiple data sources. There
are other IT projects and coding schemes which should make all of this
easier in the long term. Even now simple measures like using NHS numbers
etc seem to be impossible tasks but I think we will get there eventually
Perhaps in this evolving area we are wrong to think about storing this
information ourselves. Maybe the patient should be guardian of this data
and they decide who can look at what.
Regards
Craig
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-acb-clin-chem-gen [mailto:owner-acb-clin-chem-gen]
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2003 4:35 PM
To: cwebste1
Subject: Re: The advantages of 'net technology
---------------------- Information from the mail header
-----------------------
Sender: Clinical biochemistry discussion list
------ACB discussion List Information--------
This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical
community working in clinical biochemistry.
Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed
via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and
they are responsible for all message content.
ACB Web Site
http://www.acb.org.uk
List Archives
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html
List Instructions (How to leave etc.)
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/
|