Informatics in palliative care.

A computerized documentation system for palliative care would allow immediate availability of patient data and rapid evaluation of treatment. To develop such a system, many problems must be resolved, including choice of data and type of display. A preliminary screening of information and the introduction of codes to show some parameters are necessary to achieve a good result. We describe a program that allows data entry, storage of data, rapid display and printout of data, and recording of history, previous therapy, pathologic, physical, and laboratory findings, diagnosis, mechanisms and site of pain, drugs, and symptoms. Further improvements and problems are discussed.