The Doctor's PDA and Smartphone Handbook: Databases

Abstract

A database is the computer equivalent of a filing cabinet full of forms. Like a filing cabinet, a database can store a lot of information, and by using forms, the information is structured, which paves the way for statistical analysis and audits. A database on a handheld computer has many advantages over a filing cabinet. First, you can carry all the forms you need. This is great for audits, because you can enter data about patients at any time, including while you are with the patient during the ward round or when you can get hold of the patient's notes from the consultant's secretary. Second, you can carry all the information you have filled out in the past. Not only is the handheld device orders of magnitude smaller than a filing cabinet, the sorting and searching tools are very fast. For example, if you have a list of patients, it only takes a few seconds to sort it by each patient's name and then to sort it again by consultant's name. You can quickly search for a patient whose date of birth is before a certain year and whose blood results are within a certain range. Finally, you can share the information with colleagues. Beaming makes this quick and easy to do as you meet with colleagues during the day. It takes more effort and expertise to do this with synchronization, but it means you can get the information without needing a face-to-face meeting.