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Show Hilltop Times May 28, 1992 pyffs F(Sird!is Tresif Entire medical history worn on wrist bands by Myrna Elliott AFLC-AFS- News Service WRIGHT-PATTERSO- AFB, Ohio N -has resulted An AFLC agency's work with a research company in a test program designed to allow quicker and easier access of a patient's medical records. on bcsjr f of the team is Air Force Logistics Command headquarters' Logistics Applications of Automated Marking and Reading Symbols Project Management Office. The office plans, programs and allocates funds for the acquisition and implementaOne-hal- tion of logistics applications of automated marking and reading symbols. The other half of the team is the Atlantic Research Corp., in nearby Dayton. In February 1991, a contract was awarded to the company for a prototype system. The result is a system that uses and bar code technol- al al 3 s ogy to update and access a patient's medical history. The program is scheduled for testing in the emergency center in Wilford Hall U.S. Air Force Medical Center at Lackland AFB, Texas. When the trial period ends in December, Wilford Hall officials say they expect to be fully converted. Here is how the program works. At the time of admittance, patient information is input into a computer database through an optically scannable bar code. If the database is updated al bar code during admittance, a new label is printed and applied to the patient's medical bar code identification card. The the pacard contains identification on the symbol tient's background. A wrist band also is produced and worn the by patient. As the patient moves to other sections, attending physicians, nurses, technicians and administrators can use an electronic wand to "read" the wrist band. This will allow them to access the database to review or update the patient's records on monitors, eliminating handwritten charts. "The medical staff has to document information," said Maj. (Dr.) Scott Israel. "When someone walked off with the chart, the rest of us lost time looking two-dimension- al al bar-code- d bar-code- d for it." An added benefit involves savings resulting from a reduction of repetitive data entries. The bar code error ratio is 7,000,000-to-l- , compared to a ratio of ' " for handwritten inputs. 300-to- -l S Quick scan Capt. Patricia Park updates a patient's medical records. into a computer database by using an electronic wand to "read" that patient's wrist band. The project arose from a 1990 call for help to AFLC by Lt. Col. Frank Criddle, currently deputy director of hospital services at Wilford Hall. Physicians in the emergency department there realized about 30 perthey needed to control time spent on tracking paperwork. cent According to Capt. (Dr.) James Adams, "It can take up to 30 minutes to fill out a form for a dog bite. What if I have three dog bites that day? People are stacking up in the waiting room. "I would rather be spending that time taking care of my patients." rxns-- ? A' n n j -- Military - Civilian Personne- l- W Convenient and Quick Cash!! Cash for personal needs, vacations, etc. ORROW UP 7 $200 INSTANTLY!! 1 Military ID or Civilian ID and Post Dated Check is all you need. IF YOU NEED INSTANT CASH, COME SEE US AT 300 EAST GENTILE OPEN: MON.-THUR- S. 10 TO 5 ST- - Inside Layton FRI. 10 TO 5:30 Mini-Mal-l) LAYTON 546-277- 8 NOW OPEN SATURDAYS 11 A.M. TO 3 P.M. :!: |