The meaning of the symbols of computer seen in a dream.

The use of information technology to assist health care professionals in diagnosis. This usually involves a dialogue between a computer system and a clinician. The systems are generally regarded as support systems for clinicians; the final responsibility for decision-making resides with the clinician.... computer-assisted diagnosis

The application of computer technology to therapy.... computer-assisted therapy

The Royal College of General Practitioners has issued guidelines on the use of computer-generated prescriptions for drugs other than controlled drugs. The guidelines include rules on giving the patient’s name, address and date of birth with the responsible prescribing doctor’s name at the bottom, along with his or her surgery address and telephone number. The prescription has to be signed by the doctor. Several other requirements are included to minimise the risk of prescription-tampering, fraud or the inclusion of identi?able con?dential information. Full details of the guidelines appear in the British National Formulary, published every six months.... computer-generated prescriptions

Also known as ‘expert systems’, these are computer software systems intended to help doctors make clinical decisions. Primary care medicine is especially noted for its uncertainty by virtue of being most patients’ ?rst point of contact with health care, confronting the clinician with many ‘undi?erentiated’ health problems. So far, these systems have not been as e?ective as expected because of a failure to ana-lyse the needs of primary care. Simple procedures to prompt the delivery of treatment to patients with chronic conditions have improved care quality, but work needs to be done on their cost-e?ectiveness. The aim of more complex computerised support systems will be to forecast likely future events and the possible e?ectiveness of proposed interventions, based on available information about the patient and an understanding of the risks and e?cacy of interventions by doctors and other experts.

One example, called ISABEL, can be accessed by paediatricians to check on their diagnosis and management of many childhood disorders.... computerised decision-support systems

See COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY.... computerised tomography

The use of computer technology in diagnostic tests and procedures.

Probability-based computer systems store information on thousands of cases of different disorders detailing exact type, location, duration, symptoms, medical history, and diagnosis.

A patient’s symptoms and medical history can be entered into a computer, which then compares the details with existing data and produces a list of the most likely diagnoses.

Such technology is not currently in common use in hospitals, but is of value for people isolated from medical services, such as oil-rig crews.

Computers programmed to interpret visual data, such as abnormal cells, have potential use in certain types of blood test and cervical smear tests.

Computers are also used in investigative procedures such as CT scanning and MRI.... computer-aided diagnosis

(image-guided surgery, surgical navigation) a technique by which a virtual image or map of the patient is created from CT scans, MRI scans, X-rays, or ultrasound scans and loaded into a computer. Special instruments connected to the computer are then applied to certain reference points on the patient. The computer can then produce a picture of the location of the instrument within the patient.... computer-assisted surgery

(CR) a system for replacing photographic film with a charged plate. Exposure to X-rays knocks charge off the plate. The resultant image can be read by a laser beam and stored digitally or printed out as required. This system is widely used in conjunction with *PACS systems.... computerized radiography

(CTA) see angiography.... computerized tomographic angiography

(CT) a form of X-ray examination in which the X-ray source and detector (CT scanner) rotate around the object to be scanned and the information obtained can be used to produce cross-sectional images (see cross-sectional imaging) by computer (a CT scan). A higher radiation dose is received by the patient than with some conventional X-ray techniques, but the diagnostic information obtained is far greater and should outweigh the increased risk. CT scanning can be used for all parts of the body. The data obtained can be used to construct three-dimensional images of structures of interest. See also multidetector computerized tomography; spiral CT scanning.... computerized tomography

(MDCT) a development of *spiral CT scanning that uses more than one array of detectors opposite the X-ray tube, so that more tissue can be included, with thinner cuts, in a single rotation of the machine. This is particularly important for three-dimensional reconstruction of tissues. It also allows volumetric scanning or *isotropic imaging, which are best achieved when the thickness of the slice is similar to the size resolution of the detectors in the other two planes. Modern CT scanners are now usually equipped with between 16 and 640 detector arrays. The technique is particularly valuable for imaging fast-moving structures, such as the heart.... multidetector computerized tomography