The Behavioral Medicine Data Retrieval And Analysis Program At West Virginia University Medical Center

This paper describes a computerized information retrieval system developed in the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry at West Virginia University Medical Center. The Behavioral Medicine Data Retrieval and Analysis Program is a comprehensive system which retrieves and analyzes demographic and clinical information concerning ambulatory care patients. The computer program is the first attempt in our setting to monitor such data. The program presents data on individuals grouped by diagnosis. The computer system is currently accessed by a user query containing a five digit diagnostic code corresponding to whatever diagnostic, category (ies) the user in interested in retrieving. The user may select an exhaustive query, using all possible diagnoses, or a specific diagnostic query. In addition, information may also be retrieved in summary form across all diagnostic categories. The present program is efficient enough to allow data retrieval in a relatively short period of time. The system is being enhanced so that it will be an interactive system to aid the instructional program. The Behavioral Medicine Data Retrieval and Analysis Program is being used in teaching, administration and research.