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Computers are playing an increasingly important role in the practice of medicine. At last year's meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, 31% of the dermatologists surveyed currently use a computer in their practices, and over 60% have access to a computer on a daily basis. The most rapidly expanding aspect of computers in this field is in the areas of education, data collection, diagnosis, and treatment. This text is designed to provide a review of the principles of computers along the aforementioned lines in a manner that presupposes no prior knowledge of the subject.
The book begins with a simple account of computer hardware and software technology. This enables the novice to obtain the basic level of understanding that is needed for the subsequent chapters.
The remainder of the text reviews the various aspects of computers and the areas of medicine they influence. The chapter on clinical data collection