Framework for a new generation of medical information systems.

This paper describes the design philosophy underlying an information system for an outpatient specialty department. Flexibility, the ability to adapt the system to a specific hospital situation and to user desired tasks, now and in the future, are the main issues with which the design is dealing. This flexibility is supported in the functional design and in the way communication of data is handled. The use of standards is a key factor in structured data interchange. The system design is independent of any actual standard used. It can incorporate standards that are currently available, and anticipates those that will become available. The open system design is based on data interchange between functional elements within the system, and electronic data interchange with external systems.