PORTABLE AUTOMATED PATIENT RECORD AND TRACKING SYSTEM

MANY HOMELESS PERSONS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR HEALTH-CARE BENEFITS THROUGH PUBLIC HEALTH CLINICS, THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND OTHER FINANCIAL ENTITLEMENTS. COORDINATING SERVICES AMONG AGENCIES AND PROVIDERS, VERSUS CREATING A NEW INFRASTRUCTURE TO SERVE THE HOMELESS, IS CONSIDERED A KEY COMPONENT IN PROVIDING COST-EFFECTIVE HEALTH CARE AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES TO THIS HIGHLY MOBILE POPULATION. ONE METHOD FOR IMPROVING COORDINATION OF SERVICES IS TO TRACK PATIENT REFERRAL INFORMATION THROUGH AN AUTOMATED PATIENT RECORD SYSTEM. A PROBLEM-ORIENTED MEDICAL RECORD SYSTEM HAS BEEN CREATED USING A NEWLY DEVELOPED PORTABLE MICROCOMPUTER AND HANDWRITTEN SYMBOL RECOGNITION SOFTWARE. THIS SYSTEM OPERATES IN A DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING ENVIRONMENTPROVIDING CLINICIANS ACCESS TO PATIENT RECORDS WHILE AT REMOTE SITES. THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A PATIENT REFERRAL TRACKING MODULE TO ENSURE PATIENT COMPLIANCE AND TO ENHANCE COORDINATION OF SERVICES IS PLANNED.