Tutorials (M.D. Computing: Benchmark Papers)

PREFACEEver since the early 1960s, the medical world has awaited the promise of computerization. Many of us were fascinated by the efforts of the pioneers: Homer Warner's computerized diagnosis system, Octo Barnett's medical information system, Howard Bleich's automated acid/base consultant, and Warner Slack's history-taking program were foretastes of what was to come. At first, however, physicians and hospital personnel resisted the computer because it was too slow, too fragile, too awkward, or too costly. But in the late '70s, computerized order-entry systems began to appear throughout hospitals in clinical laboratories, pharmacies, and even on the wards. The trend toward hospital information systems, which was only a trickle five years ago, is now a steady tide.Fast, robust, easy-to-use microcomputers are now available for the convenience of individual practitioners in their own offices. Today's office computer provides competent administrative assistance. It handles accounting and payroll functions, speeds the writing of letters and reports, and even verifies spelling and grammar. It can store, locate, and cross-reference journal articles. It will analyze what has been collected, make statistical comparisons, and draw graphs and figures. Microcomputer programs for medical instruction have become common, and a few medical record-keeping programs are now available. Eventually, no matter where they are, physicians will have ready access to computer-stored medical records. Expert assistance in diagnosis and treatment selection will be as close as the nearest telephone, which will provide an immediate link to the office computer.Since 1983, M,D. Computing has explored and explained all of these aspects. Our magazine's major focus is on computer systems that serve the health provider in the home or office environment. M.D, Computing has also examined more general computer applications in medical care. Articles about the computer's role in medical imaging, cardiac monitoring, hospital information systems, and artificial intelligence have appeared in its pages.Our main objectives are to help the health-care professional select and use computer hardware and software, and, more generally, to educate our readers about the rapidly changing field of medical computing. We aim to present practical facts and principles in a probing yet clear and understandable fashion scientific without being stuffy. The feedback we've been hearing indicates that we have been successful. Flattering comments about M.D. Computing have appeared in the editorial pages of the Annals of Internal Medicine and the Bulletin of the Alliance of Continuing Medical Education. And we are very pleased that the contents of M.D. Computing are now listed in Index Medicus.Each issue of M.D. Computing contains articles covering a broad range of subject matter and requiring varying levels of technical expertise. A typical issue might contain a review of an office practice management system-of interest to the physician, nurse, and office practice manager. Next to it might be found a detailed article about a language such as LISP and how it could be applied to medical problems, or a tutorial about real-time monitoring of a patient's physiological state, along with book reviews and departments reporting on pertinent computer news.In several cases, a distinct theme has been carried through a series of features in separate issues. To make this information more readily available to our readers, Springer-Verlag is publishing the current line of books, each presenting collected M.D. Computing articles on a single theme. Along with articles originally printed in the magazine, each book will include a complete bibliographical index to make the subject more accessible.The introductory volume, is geared mainly to care providers, especially physicians who are thinking of purchasing computers for their offices. The second book is dedicated to imaging and monitoring-an introduction to computers in bioengineering, which will also serve as a general review of how such systems as CT scanners operate, for the interested health-care provider. The present volume will be of more interest to the novice who wants to know more about how computers work, or who would like to learn some programming skills; all of the M.D. Computing tutorials, are included in this volume.To our knowledge, M.D. Computing is the only publication that has systematically reviewed a large number of office practice management systems. These critiques were prepared by a small and knowledgeable corps of objective reviewers. For the current anthologies, we have decided to include some hardware and software reviews when they relate to a particular theme. But product designs are often revised, and the statements in these reviews do not necessarily apply to the current versions of the products discussed. The reviews are intended to provide insights into the kinds of criteria that pertain to systems of a given type, and to call attention to possible problems that should be investigated before you purchase a system.For our regular subscribers, we hope these volumes will provide a convenient way to locate some of the most useful material from past issues of M.D. Computing. And for those who want to learn more about a specific area of "computers in medical practice," we hope they will supply most of the information you need.Clement J. McDonald Ever since the early 1960s, the medical ical records. Expert assistance in di issue might contain a review of an office agnosis and treatment selection will be world has awaited the promise of com practice management system-of in as close as the nearest telephone, which terest to the physician, nurse, and office puterization. Many of us were fasci will provide an immediate link to the nated by the efforts of the pioneers: practice manager. Next to it might be Homer Warner's computerized diag office computer. found a detailed article about a language nosis system, Octo Barnett's medical Since 1983, M, D. Computing has such as LISP and how it could be ap information system, Howard Bleich's explored and explained all of these as plied to medical problems, or a tutorial pects. Our magazine's major focus is on about real-time monitoring of a patient's automated acid/base consultant" and Warner Slack's history-taking program computer systems that serve the health physiological state, along with book re were foretastes of what was to come. provider in the home or office environ views and departments reporting on At first, however, physicians and hos ment. M. D, Computing has also ex pertinent computer news. pital personnel resisted the computer amined more general computer appli In several cases, a distinct theme because it was too slow, too fragile, too cations in medical care Front Matter....Pages i-viii Understanding Computer Basics....Pages 1-7 Mainframes, Minis, and Micros: Past, Present, and Future....Pages 9-22 Bits, Bytes, Words and Numbers....Pages 23-28 Programming Languages....Pages 29-36 Computer-Aided Education....Pages 37-44 Talk is Getting Cheap....Pages 45-50 Selecting a Display Monitor....Pages 51-58 Presentation Graphics: An Introduction and Review of Four Systems....Pages 59-70 Putting Doctors behind Bars....Pages 71-75 Let Your Computer do the Talking and the Listening....Pages 77-86 Programming Languages II....Pages 87-97 Programming Languages III....Pages 99-104 Local Area Networks: Why? What? What if?....Pages 105-114 Talking to Computers in English....Pages 115-119 The Current State of Operating Systems: 1983 and 1984....Pages 121-125 An Introduction to LISP....Pages 127-134 Minimycin: A Miniature Rule-Based System....Pages 135-142 Back Matter....Pages 143-146