A PORTABLE MEDICAL DIGITAL DATA FILE

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A PORTABLE DIGITAL MEDIUM FOR STORING A PATIENT'S COMPLETE MEDICAL HISTORY. THE MEDIUM, WHICH MAY BE AN OPTICAL DISK OR MAGNETIC TAPE, WILL BE COMPACT AND CONVENIENT FOR THE PATIENT TO CARRY TO EACH VISIT TO A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. THE MEDIUM WILL STORE IMAGES, TEST RESULTS, DIAGNOSES, TREATMENTS, DOCTOR'S NOTES, AND INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE DATA BASES, SUCH AS PDQ AND CANCERLIT. ALL THESE DATA WILL BE INTEGRATED INTO A COMMON DATA BASE ON THE MEDIUM. WORKSTATIONS DESIGNED TO ACCESS THE HISTORY WILL BE LOCATED AT IMAGING FACILITIES, PHYSICIAN'S OFFICES, AND CLINICS. THE WORKSTATIONS WILL HAVE A WELL DESIGNED USER INTERFACE, THE HARDWARE TO READ THE STORAGE MEDIUM, AND AN INTERFACE TO IMAGING EQUIPMENT OR A MODEM TO ACCESS THE MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE DATA BASE. THE WORKSTATIONS WILL BE MODULAR IN DESIGN, AND WILL BE EQUIPED FOR THE NEEDS OF THE PARTICULAR FACILITY IN WHICH THEY ARE LOCATED. IT IS EXPECTED THAT BETTER PATIENT CARE WILL RESULT BECAUSE EACH PHYSICIAN THE PATIENT SEES WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE PATIENT'S COMPLETE MEDICAL HISTORY.