A survey of office computing in medical practices.

A survey of computer use for administrative functions in private medical practices showed that the use of computers for practice management is increasing: almost 75% of the practices responding used office computers. Satisfaction with the systems was limited, however, and the more frequent users (administrative staff members) were less satisfied than the less frequent users (physicians). Satisfaction with a computing system was directly related to its usefulness and its compatibility with existing work practices. Office systems continue to be used most for financial tasks, such as billing and insurance filing. A desired and necessary change would be an improved ability for clinical record keeping. Physicians' notes were transcribed in more than half the practices surveyed; if systems were designed with physician-friendly interfaces for record keeping, the costs associated with transcription could be cut.