Assessment of an on‐line computerized perinatal data collection and information system

Abstract

Summary. An on‐line maternity data collection system has been designed to provide the information required for perinatal audit and to allow many of the letters and forms required for effective communication in pregnancy to be produced automatically. The system meets the requirements of the Korner Committee on Health Services Information and has been approved by the Computer Policy Committee. Pregnancy is followed prospectively from the first antenatal clinic visit until the file is closed 28 days after delivery. Data are entered by midwives and secretaries onto a network of microcomputers placed at convenient points in the maternity unit. The system has been fully operational with no significant problems since the beginning of 1984 and has led to improved communication between hospital and the community. Analysis of 253 consecutive case notes showed a high level of accuracy of the data recorded on computer. Reports and clinical audit are readily available both from the system locally, from standard programmes on the regional mainframe computer and via a mainframe computer at London University

Maternal and Fetal Characteristics Associated With Meconium-Stained Amniotic Fluid

“…Computer entry by trained clerks or midwives using online validation, prompting, and standard definitions for clinical measurements, produced high-quality data. 17,18 Each year, data from these local units were downloaded into the St. Mary's Maternity Information System and maintained by the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College London. In compliance with Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001, all direct patient identifiers were removed and analyses were performed on a nonattributable data set.…”

Timing of Planned Cesarean Delivery by Racial Group

“…Computer entry by trained clerks or midwives, using online validation, prompting, and standard definitions for clinical measurements, produced high-quality data. 17,18 In compliance with Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (United Kingdom), direct identifiers such as names, addresses, and hospital numbers were removed from our data set. All analyses were performed on this nonattributable data set, which contains no patient identifiers.…”

EDV-gerechtes Krankenblatt zur computergestützten Auswertung von Schwangerschaft und Geburt

“…Besides formulating research problems the system automatically prepares the discharge report. [3,6,7,9].…”