How computers help make efficient use of consultations

doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7523.1010

BMJ 2005;331:1010-1012 (29 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7523.1010

Clinical review

ABC of health informatics

How computers help make efficient use of consultations

Frank Sullivan, NHS Tayside professor of research and development in general practice and primary care, Jeremy C Wyatt, professor of health informatics

University of Dundee.

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

Introduction

Efficient consultations deal with patients' problems promptlyand effectively while taking into account other relevant circumstances.Sometimes the relevant circumstance is another health problemin the patient or their family, or it could be an issue affectingsociety at large, such as resource constraints. The immediaterole of the team caring for Patrick Murphy (see box opposite)is to deal with his severe asthma.

To do so the team needs information on the currentproblem, which is quickly obtained from Patrick's mother (whoaccompanied him in the ambulance) and background details fromher or from his medical records. They also need to assess Patrick'sphysical status using clinical examination and other diagnosticmethods. The information obtained enables the clinicians caringfor Patrick to take the most effective management steps. Inthe longer term, data from the consultation may be used to redesignthe service locally, or at the level . . . [Full text of this article]

Write once, read many

Structured recording of data

Rapid decisions and the human brain

Clinical prediction rules

Establishing trust

Efficient use of consultation time

Summary

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