An on-line data base system and file structure for perinatology

Abstract

This paper describes a new approach to computerized processing of perinatal data, By allowing on-line entry and processing of appropriate medical data for all mothers admitted to the labour rooms and for all newborns delivered, the system is designed to meet, several clinical and technical objectives. Of these, the most important are to provide a reliable and dynamic computer evaluation of risk factors of pregnancy, labour and delivery ; to build a large and continuously updated data base useful for statistical analyses off-line ; and to optimize all phases of data acquisition, processing, storage and retrieval. The implementation of the system necessitated close cooperation between data base designers and medical personnel first in defining rigorously the internal contents and external characteristics of the data records to be computerized and then in overseeing the testing and ovaluation of the completed package. Although much of the literature on data base systems provides ample information on their organization and structure, there is a lack of emphasis on the part, of data base designers, on the uses of such systems and on their impact on direct users or beneficiaries. Thus in this paper we will attempt to stress not only the new on-line techniques developed for optimal acquisition, verification and processing of medical data but also we will discuss the preliminary results of the system's implementation, and of its impact on patient outcome through changes in clinical management.