Development and Evaluation of a Regional Medical Information Network System at Chigasaki

Abstract

　We have developed a regional network system for Chigasaki Medical Association with the aim of assisting information sharing and medical cooperation. The system also supports medical education after graduate for general practitioners. We made questionnaire surveys just before and six months after the beginning of practical use of the system in order to evaluate this system. Many responders including elderly associates considered that the BBS was the most valuable function of the system, and actually have used this function. Information sharing function for medical cooperation was not exciting to the users, but we expect that this function is instrumental for medical consumers in having more effective medical treatment. By using secured network system, such as VPN, we intend to make a refinement on the system in near future.