Computers in the consultation. The UK experience.

In the UK 50% of primary care physicians are using electronic medical records in real time during the consultation. Some have given up using manual records at all. This paper describes the reasons they have implemented electronic medical records for progress notes during a consultation and the way such records improve the care given to individual patients. The essence of the argument is that doctors make decisions whilst they are with the patient. It is therefore essential that any assistance the computer can offer is available during every consultation.