Over the last 20 years, we have developed a small database system using
FileMaker Pro to follow patients with diabetes mellitus. We developed this system
because there were no electric database systems available at Yamaguchi Red Cross
Hospital in 1989. Most hospitals now have Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems.
However, these systems were developed for common clinical usage, and do not track
sufficient specialised information to allow us to follow a particular disease. Therefore,
small systems in addition to EHR are still required. Medical staff usually do not have
sufficient computer skills to develop and maintain such systems, but generally have
adequate skills to use these systems as well as the desire to maintain the health of their
patients. It is important for medical staff to learn to make databases themselves to be
able to obtain sufficient information regarding their patients while maintaining
sufficient levels of privacy.
Keywords: SDM, diabetes mellituS, FileMaker Pro, team work, complications,
home doctor, medical information letter, medical manuals, Cancer, XML.
