PureMD: a Computerized Patient Record software for direct data entry by physicians using a keyboard-free pen-based portable computer.

This paper describes the data acquisition features of the PureMD Computerized Patient Record (CPR) software designed specifically for physicians. The physician uses a stylus to point, draw and handwrite on a Dynamic Dialog Interface that provides the same flexibility as the paper record and numerous other advantages. The clinical data thus entered is highly organized, easily legible and retrievable in many ways. The underlying Medical Knowledge Base (MKB) was optimized for rapid, intuitive and consistent data entry and automatic coding with minimum handwriting.