By Daniela Chueke

One of the greatest challenges when implementing an integrated medical computer system is to make sure that its use results in tangible improvements both in the quality of medical care and the safety of patients.

Another major concern in these cases is to insure that the new system being adopted is accessible enough for doctors to feel that it is a key resource for their profession and not an obstacle that will disrupt the natural flow of their practice.

It is clear that the system must at heart be efficient at developing diagnoses, that it diminish the risk of interruptions when prescribing medicine, that it must be capable of taking into account factors which might otherwise be overlooked and that, at the same time it be an ideal tool to aid decision-making.