Creation and Design of Patient Typing and Comment (PTC) Database

Abstract

The Patient Typing and Comment (PTC) database was initially proposed by Bryan Crocker and Dr. Calvino Cheng. The division of Pathology Informatics at Capital Health does not have a central database to access patients’ information during downtime of the Cerner Pathnet Millennium Laboratory Information System and a database will be needed sooner or later. Currently, all the patients’ historical information is combined and recorded in one single text file with limited readability and functions available. The PTC database is designed to address these issues. The newly developed database provides system users a better method to update patient records, better readability, as well as improved patient search ability. User can search patient record using wildcard search, and retrieve information demographics, medical history, transfusion requirements and all the clinical comments from past encounters. The database provides a base for automatic updates and backup in the future. It will also provide valuable data for data mining and statistical analysis. There were three major stages to the project: 1. Convert the PTC text file into a format that can be imported into Microsoft Access and. 2. Create a Microsoft Access database for the PTC file. 3. Upsize the Microsoft Access to Microsoft SQL Server, while maintaining a user-friendly frontend interface. The internship work was originally planned to be performed from June 16 to Sept 16, 2009. However, due to personnel changes and technical problems, the internship was extended to Dec 7, 2009. The internship was a valuable learning experience for the author. Developing a database from scratch is a time-consuming but useful process that will improve PTC usability and potentially reduce transfusion adverse events.