Computerization of 100,000 cases of Surgical Pathology Data at SNUH by Automatic Coding System using Personal Computer

Kim, Woo Ho; Choe, Ghee Young; Seo, Jeong Wook; Kim, Yong Il

Abstract

A computer program using automatic coding of the diagnosis has been used for report printing as well as data storage and retrieval system at the Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital. Previous surgical pathology files were also computerized by the automatic coding system using personal computer, and 100,000 cases of surgical pathology data during 7 years were computerized at present. The cpmputerized surgical files were counted and listed according to topograph and morphologic diagnosis. It is available to print out the list of a specific diagnosis or to copy the records to a floppy diskette. Collection of cases in surgical pathology files using cpmputerized automatic coding system becomes much convenient and accurate than using stored file cards or log books. In addition, previous biopsy records of the patient are automatically searched during the routine work so that understanding of a patient as a whole is possible through the informations about previous pathologic diagnosis. We confirm that automatic coding methods is the most practical and economic method for computerization of the surgical pathology records.