Current Status of Ambulatory Health Care Computer Applications

Much of the present consumer concern with American health care starts with the discrepancy most people experience between the office visit to a doctor and the focus of most medical research and its results. Medical progress has affected public health and the acutely ill or disabled, but has had comparatively minor impact on the average doctor-patient encounter outside the hospital, university medical center, or other specialized setting. In 1970, 72% of the population consulted a physician at least once, but only 10.3% reported one or more hospital episodes; American Hospital Association statistics showed community hospitals averaging 4.6 outpatient visit every one inpatient admission.1