Chapter 10: Databases
A database is the computer equivalent of a filing cabinet full of forms. Like a filing cabinet a database can store a lot of information. And by using forms the information is structured, paving the way to statistical analysis and audits.
But a database on a handheld computer has many advantages over a filing cabinet. First, you can carry all the forms you need. This is great for audits because you can enter data about patients at any time, including when you are with the patient at the ward round, or when you can get hold of the patient’s notes from the consultant’s secretary.
Second, you can carry all the information you have filled out in the past. Not only is this orders of magnitude smaller than a filing cabinet, the sorting and searching tools are very fast. For example, if you have a list of patients it only takes a few seconds to sort it by each patient’s name then to sort it again by consultant’s name. You can quickly search for a patient whose date of birth is before a certain year and whose blood results are within a certain range.
Finally, you can share the information with colleagues. Beaming makes this quick and easy to do with colleagues as you meet them during the day. It takes more effort and expertise to do this with synchronisation, but it means you can get the information without needing face-to-face meeting.
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