Some Comments on the Usefulness of Electronic Data Processing in Medical Practice

Many of the time-consuming activities performed by a practicing physician can be performed expeditiously by electronic data processing. Permanent records on patients could be made available in a very short time to any hospital in the country. However, the meeting of patient and physician must be regarded as a therapeutic phenomenon from the start. The importance of the thinking, reasoning, and listening process on the part of the physician cannot be diminished without affecting the over-all therapeutic value of the physician to the patient.