A computerized medical record. "The Balsfjord system"

Abstract

The "Balsfjord system" is a fully computerized system of medical records. The system is developed by the University of Tromsö in cooperation with the district physicians in Balsfjord. It is designed for Norwegian general practice based on microcomputers. Each general practitioner has a computer terminal in his/her consulting room, and all the terminals can operate on the same file simultaneously. The main archive is a hard disc, in addition there is a a secondary diskette archive for old, out of date record versions. Each medical record is composed of seven components, where the medical information is logically organized. The system is able to print out prescriptions, sick-leave forms, and parts or the whole record. Included in the program are two statistical systems. One is based on data from encounters, and the other is a search and statistical system based on the individual record as the unit. The system has been very successful for the two and a half years it has been in use. Both the doctors and the ancilliary staff have appreciated the system in their daily work.