Abstract
This report describes a symbiotic interaction between a hospital tumor registry and the physicians in a medical school department of otolaryngology. The tumor registry is responsible for collecting central registry data, entering both central registry and department-specific data, performing routine data maintenance functions, and tracking the patients over time. The departmental physicians collect site-specific data and, after entry into a computer-based data base management system, can access the information without intermediaries and at their convenience. The result is a comprehensive information resource for head and neck cancer. The development of a medical subspeciality information system, as a satellite to the central registry mechanism, is noteworthy in its low cost, frequent physican use, better patient tracking, improved patient care, and increased clinical relevance of registry activites. A subtle but pervasive benefit is the increased sense of mission experienced by all concerned.
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Hokanson, J.A., Stiernberg, C., Quinn, F.B. et al. An information system for head and neck tumors: Optimal use of abstracting and retrieval resources. J Med Syst 8, 217–228 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02222170
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02222170