A Computerized Hospital to Physician Office Link Based on Readily Available Technology

Most hospitals today are quickly developing special programs and services that are designed to compete for physicians and patients, and ultimately fill unoccupied beds. In an attempt to attract physicians and simplify the care of patients through better data access, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center has developed and tested an electronic communication link between physician offices and the hospital. The system is based on a third-party electronic mail system and other off-the-shelf hardware and software components which avoided extensive specialized software development and allowed rapid deployment of a viable product. This paper chronicles the development, implementation, and initial evaluation of this link and concludes with plans for further expansion.