Is the biggest use of the computer in the medical field for record keeping?
As a critical care nurse, I’m hard-pressed to think of any areas in the medical field not heavily using computers. Of course, the advantages of computers in record-keeping are obvious. Financial and administrative departments use computers heavily in the same way their non-medical cohorts do–spreadsheets, e-mail, calendar scheduling, etc. Radiology takes and views digital X-rays and CT scans and MRI’s on computer monitors and doctor can access their patients chest X-ray from workstations anywhere in the hospital. Pharmacy uses computers heavily for checking doses & interractions; keeping track of narcotics dispensed from Pyxis units on the floors; printing labels for drugs so they are given to the right patient. Nurses use computers a lot and are preparing to do so even more. The Obama administration’s emphasis on the electronic medical record has brought it to the forefront for the public, but most hospitals of note have either already converted to all electronic charting & patient h
