An obstetric microcomputer information system.

A systems analysis has been done to determine how computer technology can provide an information system to improve the care of the mother and her baby. A minimum data base was established complying with the recommendations of the Körner Committee and designed to meet the needs of the health personnel looking after the mother and baby. An ICL DRS 20/50 network of four microcomputers has been installed in the obstetric unit of a district teaching hospital with a link to the regional mainframe. There have been no significant software or hardware faults since the system became fully operational in January 1984. All women are registered on the system at their first visit allowing the pregnancy to be followed prospectively. Subsequently midwives enter data on line at delivery and at discharge. The on line validation and range checks improves the accuracy of the data allowing a reliable perinatal audit to be obtained routinely. The system has been accepted by the staff since much of the routine pregnancy documentation is produced automatically. This includes booking letters and summaries for general practitioners, admission slips, birth notification forms, registers and forms for the community midwives and health visitors. Immediate production of reports for community health staff allows better communication and improved patient care. No additional staff are needed in the obstetric unit and one job which was mainly of a clerical nature has been saved and the salary transferred to provide one more midwife for the postnatal wards.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)