THE DIATEK ARKIVE ORGANIZER PATIENT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT-SYSTEM - EXPERIENCE AT A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Objective. To install and successfully use early commercial automatic anesthesia recordkeepers, the Diatek Arkive ''Organizer'' units, in th e operating rooms at a major university medical center. Methods. Becau se of the history of previous academic attempts at automatic anesthesi a recordkeeping, the units were installed on a ''surprise'' basis, wit h hardly any discussion of the devices beforehand. Results. The device s themselves had a number of minor difficulties at the start, most of which were promptly corrected. Eventually the units were in use in all non-cardiac general operating rooms. At one point, usage reached over 90% of possible cases. Continued opposition to the device on the part of certain individuals, coupled with the obsolescence of the present devices in light of new technology, led to the eventual abandonment of the system and removal of the devices from service. Discussion. Total resistance to the new devices on the part of a few vocal faculty memb ers was a major factor in the ultimate downfall of the system. The met hod of introduction, an, especially the lack of involvement of faculty , residents, surgeons, operating room personnel, hospital computer per sonnel, and the hospital administration in the installation also playe d a role in the failure of the system. Lack of a workable training mec hanism for new residents prevented that user group from rapidly gainin g comfort with the systems.