A Resident Education Support System using the Integrated Hospital Information Web

An intra-hospital information web system (an intranet) was incorporated in the hospital practice information network so that the same computer terminals used for medical recording and browsing can also be utilized for communication among hospital personnel. Furthermore this network is connected, under cover of firewall and anti-virus protection program, to the internet where residents, and other personnel as well, are able to get useful information worldwide around the clock.<br/> We introduced several programs in the intranet for resident education and training: (1) on-line conference schedule table from which every resident can confirm the schedules of various conferences and lectures performed almost everyday through client terminals laid in every ward. (2) resident web-notebook to which every resident can input memoranda of his or her practical experiences and acquired knowledge. These data can be input and also be browsed in any terminal at any time. There incorporated is a search program with which the user can retrieve appropriate information in need afterwards. (3) a personal directory (personal web folder) where every resident can access, with his or her ID and password, and can utilize as resident's own knowledge storehouse. There is a linkage button so that in one click one can ply between the resident web-notebook and his or her personal web folder. (4) on-line assessment sheet in which the residents can input the assessment marks and comments on specific departments where they have undergone training. These data are collected in anonymous basis and analyzed in the resident-education committee for feedback in specific training programs and attitudes.<br/> There also formed is an "educational repository" site in the intranet, where any specialty department can upload diagnostic and/or treatment guidelines, conference notes, useful archives, figures and tables, etc.. Along with these developments listed above, use of client computer hard disk for personal data storage and utilization, attachment of removable memory apparatuses (such as USB flash memory, CD-R, etc.) are all basically prohibited.<br/> Residents can confirm day-by-day conference schedule through any terminal in any ward at any time. Also they can input and retrieve their valuable personal knowledge with the use of resident web-notebook everywhere in their workplace all the time. They can store important information, articles, figures and pictures acquired from the internet sites and/or from the intranet educational respository into their personal web folder for later reference from any terminal. These tools seem to be considerably more convenient and efficient as compared with the use of conventional paper-and-note based knowledge conveyance.<br/> At the same time the restriction of using client terminal hard disk for personal purposes and prohibition of the use of removable memory apparatuses in exchange for the convenience listed above is thought to be able to enhance the system intactness and privacy protection.