THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS THE CREATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE SYSTEM THAT UTILIZES BOTH TRADITIONAL DATABASE TECHNOLOGIES AND THE TECHNIQUES DEVELOPED AS A RESULT OF RESEARCH INTO THE AREAS OF ARTIFICIAL

THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS THE CREATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE SYSTEM THAT UTILIZES BOTH TRADITIONAL DATABASE TECHNOLOGIES AND THE TECHNIQUES DEVELOPED AS A RESULT OF RESEARCH INTO THE AREAS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERT SYSTEMS. THE COMPLETED SYSTEM WILL ADDRESS BOTH CLINICAL AND MANAGERIAL/ADMINISTRATIVE NEEDS WITHIN THE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM. PHASE I IS INTENDED TO TEST THE FEASIBILITY OF SUCH A SYSTEM BY THE CREATION AND ANALYSIS OF A COMPLETE DATA DICTIONARY REQUIRED FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE SYSTEM (A NURSING INFORMATION SYSTEM) AND A COMPLETE DEFINITION OF THE VARIOUS OBJECT TYPES REQUIRED. THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FINITE-STATE PROTOTYPE OF THE NURSING INFORMATION SYSTEM WILL BE THE TANGIBLE OUTPUT OF THIS EFFORT, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE INVESTIGATORS TO DEFINE THE FEASIBLE LIMITS OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM AND ALLOW FOR A DETAILED OUTLINE OF THE ANTICIPATED COSTS AND BENEFITS OF SUCH A COMPUTER SYSTEM, WHICH THE COMMERCIAL DEMAND FOR SUCH A SYSTEM IS ALREADY SUBSTANTIAL AND WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AS THE INFORMATIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND COST PRESSURES ON THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY INCREASE.