Are microcomputers appropriate for your practice?
J. Zimmerman, S. B. Boxerman and A. L. Rector
The overly simplistic view of the process of automation widely presented to
physicians needs to be counterbalanced. Computers are becoming cheaper,
easier to program, and simpler to operate. However, the physician must be
aware of the gap between personal computing and serious use of computers in
his practice. To bridge this gap, the physician must analyze his needs to
identify appropriate applications to automate, plan the implementation of
these applications, and choose the necessary hardware and software
resources. To do so it may be valuable for him to seek the help of an
expert. Although the physician can certainly perform the necessary tasks,
he should be aware that to perform them efficiently there are a number of
aspects he should seriously consider.
