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Integration of Database Capabilities into a Patient Reporting System

Baylor College of Medicine, Nuclear Medicine Service, St. Luke's Episcopal and Texas Children's Hospitals, and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas

Correspondence: For reprints contact: Paul H. Murphy, PhD, Nuclear Medicine Service 3-261, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, 6720 Bertner Ave., Houston, TX, 77030.

ABSTRACT

A database design is described which automatically archives computer-generated patient imaging and radioassay reports. Selected phrases are condensed so that data storage will be efficient without sacrificing a prose style of report. An indexed file structure has been used to facilitate rapid record retrieval even when several hundred thousand records are stored. Personnel time is considerably reduced for recalling patient records, preparing periodic summaries of studies completed, and performing administrative functions such as billing and keeping track of checked out images. Complex queries, such as "list all the patients between the ages of 50 and 60 on digitalis referred for a stress cardiac study, with left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40% and apical dyskinesis," become feasible. A system for data backup is described to protect against catastrophic data loss.