Multiuser clinical electrophysiology database using low-cost PCs in a Novell Netware Environment

A multiuser database has been developed by the Duke University Medical Center´s clinical electrophysiology (EP) group that runs on low-cost IBM compatible PCs running in a Novell Netware Environment and is written in the FoxPro programming language. The authors describe the functioning of the Duke EP database and illustrate how networked PCs in combination with the powerful database development systems now available can be employed by end-users to solve problems quickly and economically. The functions provided by the Duke EP database include storage of patient information, procedure report generation, quality assurance monitoring, intrahospital billing, clinic scheduling, and implantable cardiac defibrillator monitoring. The system incorporates features such as pop-up menus for data entry, step-by-step instructions, and an online help system to make it easy to use by nontechnical personnel. The effectiveness and cost of the system are discussed