Standardization of computer systems for logging operative cases.

With the advent of extremely rapid, powerful, compact, and inexpensive microcomputers, a revolution in data manipulation is ongoing. We have customized and used for over two years prepackaged software to track residents' operative experiences in the Department of Otolaryngology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia. An attempt is presently being made to develop a similar system that might be utilized by all otolaryngology teaching programs and thus enable the collection and review of residents' operative experiences nationally. A basic, relational database system is proposed for entering resident caseload data and generating reports for periodic review.