The HELP system: a review of clinical applications in infectious diseases and antibiotic use.

The HELP hospital information system, now under development for more than 20 years, has become an essential part of the daily operation of LDS Hospital, a 500-bed tertiary-care facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. The overall goal of the system is to provide decision-making capabilities for medical personnel and thus improve patient care. Since 1983, clinical applications have been available to improve the use of antibiotics and increase infection control. This article describes these applications and the essential features of the HELP system.