MICROCOMPUTER WORKSTATION FOR MANAGEMENT OF DYSLIPIDEMIA

ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN GREAT ADVANCES IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (CVD) OVER THE PAST DECADE, THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD TO CONTROL CVD IS THROUGH ACTIONS THAT PREVENT THE DISEASE. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CVD IS ELEVATED SERUM CHOLESTEROL. THIS PROJECT WILL DEVELOP A COMPUTER WORKSTATION THAT CAN BE USED BY PATIENTS, STAFF, AND PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS TO ASSIST IN THE SCREENING, TREATMENT, AND EDUCATION OF PATIENTS ABOUT DYSLIPIDEMIA. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH CLOSE CONSULTATION AMONG EXPERTS IN PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, CVD, AND NUTRITION, AND A PHYSICIAN FOCUS GROUP. THE WORKSTATION WILL CONSIST OF THREE PARTS: (1) INTERACTIVE COMPUTER AND TELEPHONE ROUTINES TO OBTAIN INFORMATION FROM AND PROVIDE ADVICE TO PATIENT USERS, (2) PHYSICIAN WORKSHEETS TO GUIDE PHYSICIANS TO SCREEN FOR AND TREAT PATIENTS WITH DYSLIPIDEMIA, AND (3) COMPUTER-CONTROLLED TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS TO REMIND PATIENTS OF SCHEDULED FOLLOWUP APPOINTMENTS. THIS WORKSTATION CONCEPT, IF SUCCESSFUL, CAN BE USED TO DEVELOP ADDITIONAL ADD-ON MODULES FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PREVENTION OF OTHER DISEASES.