Applying computers in the National Health Service

As a service dedicated to giving reassurance to the public at large, healthcare is a natural case for making the best use of the rapid response offered by computers and communication technology. Indeed, in an increasingly `wired´ society, there is a limit to which people will accept a non-wired health service without losing confidence in its ability, or desire, to meet their needs. The article discusses managing hospital resources in the NHS. The role of a hospital communications and reporting system is making data used for patient administration available for clinical resource management. The evolution as integrated system is outlined. Data access and security become key issues. Standards are fundamental to sharing information and a Healthcare Information Standards Coordinating Committee has been formed to bring together the work of bodies such as IEEE and ASTM in the USA. A series of diagnosis related groups has been devised to aid case management