BMJ  2005;331:955-957 (22 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7522.955

Clinical review

ABC of health informatics

How informatics tools help deal with patients' problems

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Introduction

During the everyday general practice consultation described in the box opposite, the common and rare collide. A problem that may have been a routine matter becomes one of enormous importance to the doctor and the patient. At least seven problems should be dealt with during the consultation. This article, which follows on from the initial contact between Dr McKay and Ms Smith described in the first article of the series ( BMJ 2005;331: 566-8[Free Full Text]), explains how a range of solutions may be presented to doctors during the consultation to augment their decision making processes.

Presenting problems

Ms Smith came to see her GP because of tiredness and muscle cramps, and these problems need to be considered in detail. Potential solutions should be discussed with Ms Smith in a way that she can understand.

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The patient's history indicated that, among other things, her pulse . . . [Full text of this article]

Investigation

Referral

"Just in time" learning

Accessing information after the consultation

Summary

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