Information management in clinical practice.

Information management is essential for optimal delivery of health care services to individuals and the community. Current information techniques--largely dependent on the individual patient record--cannot effectively store, process, retrieve, and communicate the vast amount of data and information which is integral to the comprehensive health care process. Computerized techniques similar to those which are an indispensable part of almost all scientific, commercial, and administrative sectors of society are urgently needed to support a fully effective health care system.