Longitudinal health record: a pediatrician's viewpoint of the longitudinal health record.

This paper will discuss the Health Record in terms of content, value of a Longitudinal Record, need for a dynamic and interactive record versus the current archived chronological repository of information, areas of application in research, clinical benefits and population related research concerning present and future influences upon a person's health. It will contain the categories of information utilized in a model Health Record, what facts should be contained within a brief Synopsis or Record Abstract and the contents of a master Pediatric Database. Areas of uses, abuses, potential problems, security needs, privacy and confidentiality issues, legal aspects, transfer of information, technical considerations, computerization of the Record and other matters will be discussed.