Clinical and managerial applications of a relational database for a multi-centered pediatric cardiology service

In Northern Ireland children suffering from congenital heart disease are treated through the Regional Paediatric Cardiology Service. A computerized database system has been implemented, using the relational database management system Oracle, to record information on all the patients seen by the service. The authors describe the structure and purpose of the data recorded; they identify and illustrate the types of report which can be produced. An overview of the equipment used and its links to other computer facilities is given. At present information is held on almost 7000 patients. The purpose of the database is to provide clinical and management information for the cardiology service