Why to Computerize Niranjan Shendurnikar, Naveen Thacker 1 C OMPUTERS FOR D OCTORS The first computer in India was installed in 1955, at the Indian Statis- tical Institute, Calcutta and was imported from UK. By the end of that decade, in 1964, there were in all 16 computers in India of which 10 were supplied by IBM. The Electronic Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) a public sector enterprise began indigenous production of computers in the year 1971, with indigenous pro- cessors and imported peripherals. Since then computer industry and use of computer application has seen an unprecedented growth. Computers have become an integral part of day-to-day life and they are here to stay. To computerize or not, has remained one of the important dilemma faced by the medical practitioners, who may believe that whether there is any use of investing time, money and efforts in computerizing their clinical practice. Till mid 1990s health sector was relatively slower in deriving the potential benefits from this powerful tool. However, the last few years have seen positive chan- ges with an increasing number of medical practitioners having realized that they cannot remain untouched by this modern tech- nology. Days are not far away, when those medical practitioners not adapting to this essential technology will feel isolated and left out. WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF COMPUTERIZATION Health sector is one of the largest consumer oriented fields, which can derive benefit from the computerization. Applications of computers in health care systems are as diverse as the medical science. However, following goals are well defined for the computerization of medical practice.

Computer Hardware AC Mullick 2 C OMPUTERS FOR D OCTORS INTRODUCTION In this section we will try to expose computer hardware to help you make an intelligent choice while buying a PC, branded or assembled. There are many good places to buy computer or parts, if you desire to have your PC assembled/upgraded. You can go to a computer retail store in your area. Although they often provide good warranties, the trade off may be that you will pay a little more than you would in other places, sometimes, a lot more. Most towns also have smaller stores that sell and repair computer equipment. Regardless of location, such stores are often cheaper and can provide individual attention. The hardware they sell is often retail packaged from the manufacturer. They may also sell OEM hardware, which usually comes wrapped in nothing but a static bag and is accompanied with very little documentation. You will need to be the judge on this type of hardware. If you feel you need the documentation, you should not buy OEM hardware. The bottom line here is to know your stuff. The PC sales industry is occupied by many with those who will take advantage of your lack of knowledge. Before getting robbed, lets have a closer look of each type of hardware. CASE/CABINET Make sure you buy a case, which will fit into the space you intend to place it. This is where you decide between a desktop or a tower case. Pay attention to the form factor: AT or ATX. Almost all newer motherboards are using the ATX form factor, so if you have an old case lying around, chances are a new board wont fit in it.

Computer Software Gaurav Gupta 3 C OMPUTERS FOR D OCTORS Software (Programs) means a set of instructions given to a computer to perform a particular task. Software is written in various computer languages such as assembly language, C/C++, visual basic and many more. Practically, the easiest way to define software and differentiate it from hardware is whatever you can see and touch physically on the computer is hardware while the rest is software. For example mouse, monitor, keyboard, speakers, CD- ROM, floppy drives, processors, motherboards, RAM, hard disk, sound and video cards are all termed as Hardware. Programs that make your computer function like Windows, Microsoft Office, Games, and Web Browsers like Internet Explorer are all software. One may be able to hold the CD of a game but the game itself is software, as it cannot be physically manipulated. Originally, when digital machines were developed which evolved into todays modern digital computer, all the logic/intelli- gence required to run those machines were defined by hardware itself. This made those machines useless for performing any other task than what they were designed to do. These machines could do only the custom made jobs. Also engineers had lot of difficulty to make any changes in the way of running of these machines. Thus, technocrats separated the logic to run these machines from the machines themselves. This evolved into todays software. WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS TYPES OF SOFTWARE AVAILABLE Software is available to perform all kinds of activities on the computer. Some examples of common types of software are shown in Table 3.1.

Maintaining Your Computer CSN Vittal 4 C OMPUTERS FOR D OCTORS In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is . Jan LA van de Snepscheut Computers being electronic machines need regular upkeep to provide their users with the optimal performance. This chapter would discuss about the simple and basic maintenance information and tips about the computers and their peripherals so that one can take care of minor problems himself on a day-to-day basis. As is the case with your vehicle, computers require some regular maintenance. However, the computer care comprises of two important but diverse aspects. One is the hardware maintenance and the other is the software maintenance. Let us have a closer look at both of them. HARDWARE The electromechanical parts of computer, which are visible and touched physically, are termed as hardware. For e.g. system case, motherboard, and CPU, monitor and other peripherals like floppy disk, printer, scanner, modem, etc. form the part of hardware. Every physical object is surrounded by more or less -DUST, which affects the system performance and durability. There are various measures to avoid such dust built-ups in todays micro personal computers. Here are few listed below: Use a good case cover when the system is not operating to avoid dust build ups.

Computer Security and Viruses C Vidyashankar 5 C OMPUTERS FOR D OCTORS INTRODUCTION A computer virus is a program that spreads from one computer to another and has the potential to produce damage. The important aspect is the spread, which makes it possible for viruses to spread from one corner of the world to another within minutes. Viruses spread through removable media like CD ROMs, floppy disks, zip drives and importantly through networksmore so the Internet. Once they enter a clean computer they start multiplying, much like the human viruses and then may cause damage to the data, depending on the intention of the maker. Computer viruses are manmade, unlike the viruses, which cause disease and have been made with either a malicious or a mischievous intent. Viruses have caused billions of dollars worth of damage by corrupting the data and producing serious damage to businesses. Love bug, code red, Melissa, Friday the 13th are some of the viruses that have made news in the recent past. By the time you would have read this book, thousands of new viruses would have been created, circulated and produced considerable damage. Viruses started appearing with the growing popularity and use of computers in the late 70s and early 80s. But the spread and potential for damage has multiplied manifold in the last five years due to the internet. Internet, as you are aware is large interconnected network of computers that transcends geographic borders. Viruses spread rapidly by attaching themselves with files and e-mails and unless detected early can prove problematic. Viruses are detected and eliminated using antivirus programs that are installed in the computer.

Computer Ergonomics Tanmay R Amladi 6 C OMPUTERS FOR D OCTORS Ergonomics in the field of computers endeavors to provide a guide to healthy and productive usage of the PC, with blueprints to prevent, detect early and treat computer usage-related physical and mental illnesses. As one uses computers for longer hours everyday, he may notice increasing aches and pains in some parts of the bodies. These problems are often musculo skeletal in nature and can happen in anyone who uses a computer for long hours: computer program- mers, engineers, data entry workers, telephone operators, customer service workers, and even medical practitioners. The problems can range from minor muscle aches that last less than a few hours to persistent tendon problems that can last for months to years. The more severe problems can lead people to leave a job they like or stop doing sports activities they enjoy, like tennis or bicycle riding. Hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders and neck are the most vulne- rable body parts to undergo stress by prolonged or inappropriate postures assumed by the user. The problems may vary from aches , pain, burning, numbness or tingling sensations. These symptoms may be felt during typing or mouse use or at other times when no work is being done, including during the night when the symptoms might wake you up. If you experience these symptoms, or other persistent or recurrent pains that you think may be related to using a computer, you should seek a medical opinion or else talk to your companys health and safety staff. The earlier a problem is properly diagnosed and managed, the less chance is that it will progress to a disabling condition. Most often these problems are not alarming and would tend to subside with a little attention to the way one work. First of all, the more hours one works, the greater ones risk.

Choosing a Medical Software Naveen Thacker, Satish Pandya 8 C OMPUTERS FOR D OCTORS To choose a word-processing or a slide presentation software is not very difficult because a good deal of advertising material is available to help you. But finding the right medical software suitable for your needs is a more difficult task. Nonetheless it is of great importance. You can change your word-processor after sometime, but it is a very tedious task to change your medical records software. Therefore, good amount of time and effort should be spent in looking for the right software for your practice. One way to get the right program is to write the program yourself. To create even simple program one needs to have an expertise in programme writing. But it is like trying to build a new car from an instruction manual. Unless you are a computer expert, it is better to buy a readymade program for your work provided it serves your purpose or you can sit with a program writer and develop a program according to your needs. The important points which one should keep in mind while selecting medical software are: It should Fulfill Most of your Requirements Before deciding to buy software you must know your requirements. One should not compromise even if one gets some software free of cost or at a very low cost. If the program does not meet your requirements, anyway, you will give it up very soon. It should be Easy to Learn and Operate Any software, which requires the user to remember many commands, or requires several steps to complete one task, cannot be useful.

Medical Presentations Niranjan Shendurnikar, Sanjeev Goel 9 C OMPUTERS FOR D OCTORS Visual presentations play an import ant part in scientific and medical gatherings and are an extremely powerful communication tools in todays era. As an inevitable consequence of the electronic age, it is rarely sufficient just to talk anymore without visual aids, while making any kind of formal presentation. While a properly prepared visual presentation enhances the range, speed and the depth of presentation, poorly prepared ones can kill the rapport of the speaker with the audience. Presenting well outside workplace is just as vital, whether one is addressing a parent teachers meeting or making a speech at a formal academic gathering. Besides, the presenter who make the use of appropriately selected visual aids are generally perceived as being more professional and persuasive than those who rely on oral presentations alone. The following section discusses the tips spanning the whole spectrum of presentationscreating them well, getting the content right and delivering them effectively. Some of the software used to design and create presentations are Microsofts Power Point, Lotus Freelance Graphics and Harvard Graphics. Power Point, one of the applications found in the Microsoft Office suite, lets one combine text, graphics, and animations and arrange them in a slide show format to create any kind of presentation. One can show slides as 35 mm slides ,on a computer monitor or on TV screens, on a projection screen, and even over the Web. It is the benchmark and a feature rich software for putting together visual presentations where effective communication is the key.

Computers in Medical Education and Research Uday Bodhankar, Satish Deopujari 10 C OMPUTERS FOR D OCTORS Computer has revolutionized the field of educational technology. Multimedia as it incorporates both graphics and text would play a major role especially in medical education and medical communi- cation. Computer can never replace a good teacher at the same time no good teacher will ever undermine computer as an important partner in education. Listed below are certain important advantages of computer as a teaching tool. Unlike what most people think computer adapts to the needs of the individual learner. It stores information in an organized and analyzable way. From this information can be retrieved fast. It can interact with the learner in a way that is stimulating and rewarding. It involves active participation by the learner and the interaction is emotion and bias free. It maintains a record of responses; which can be analyzed later and provides assessment at critical junctions giving immediate feedback. Both text and graphics can be handled simultaneously. COMPUTER ASSISTED INSTRUCTION (CAI) Denotes the flow of information between the computer and the student so as to provide instruction to the student on specific areas of learning. In implementing computer-assisted instruction the principles of programmed learning are used with the added advantage that the responses of the student are instantly and permanently recorded by the computer.

Telemedicine Naveen Thacker, C Vidyashankar 11 C OMPUTERS FOR D OCTORS To put it simply, telemedicine is the exchange of medical infor- mation over a distance. This applies to images, discussions, lab data and any other piece of medically relevant information. A formal definition of telemedicine has evolved over the years that states telemedicine is: The use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communication for the health and education of the patient or health care provider and for the purpose of improving patient care. (The American Telemedicine Association). Telemedicine can be as simple as two health professionals discussing a case over telephone, or as sophisticated as using satellite technology to broadcast a consultation between faculties in two countries using videoconferencing equipment. Initially, telemedicine was restricted to transmitting patient images using TV cameras, which was used at sea, airlines and in remote areas. But the advent of computers and internet has made the transmission of complete patient data possible. Not only this, images, ECG, X- rays, ultrasound and CT scans can also be transmitted. In fact, patients can be operated by robots in remote- telesurgery. The trans- mission of images, or teleradiology is the most commonly used application of telemedicine as of now. This is because of the cost involved in the getting the radiologist to read an image versus sending the image to him/her and getting the result in minutes. Telemedicine has not only made medical care more accessible in developed countries, but has made possible provision of specia- lized care in developing countries, with the minimal cost.

Computers in Patient Education RD Lele, Swati Y Bhave 12 C OMPUTERS FOR D OCTORS INTRODUCTION The word doctor is derived from the Latin docere to teach. Patient education is an important obligation of the doctor, which is often neglected because the doctor is too busy taking care of the sick. Internet has now provided unlimited access to health care information for which patients seem to have an insatiable need. Currently over 60 million people are using the internet to obtain health care information. It is interesting to note that almost twice as many women (47%) are using internet for health information as men (26%) and that older age groups are more represented than 18 to 29 age group. More than 25000 health related sites are maintained on the worldwide web, originating from an amazing variety of individuals and organizations and representing a wide array of quality and approaches. Many of the problems with health care are directly related to the limited physician-patient access and to the accessibility of information, which the patient eagerly seeks but does not get from his/her doctor. There is growing evidence to suggest that both e- mail and web-based self-help documents will not only improve the situation for the individual patients but will also result in substantial cost savings to the clinics and medical institutions.

E-mail, Mailing Lists, News Groups, Bulletin Board and Chat Amit P Shah, Mahadev T Desai 14 C OMPUTERS FOR D OCTORS E-MAIL It may take days to send a letter across the country and weeks to go around the world. E-mail or electronic mail can take the written and graphic message in just few seconds anywhere anytime. More and more people are using electronic mail to save time and money. Its fast, easy and much cheaper than the post office route. E-mail though in infancy in India, has come to stay and grow stronger day by day. This is not a document on the mechanics of sending e-mail which buttons to push or how to attach a photograph. Those details may vary for different e-mail software package, and are better handled with the help of manuals for the program. The chapter will instead focus on the content of an e-mail message: how to say effectively what one needs to say. What is Electronic Mail What is e-mail In its simplest form, e-mail is an electronic message sent from one computer to another. You can send or receive personal and business-related messages with attachments, such as pictures, documents, audio or video clips and even computer programs. Just as a letter makes stops at different postal stations along its way, e-mail passes from one computer, known as a mail server, to another as it travels over the Internet.

Searching the Internet and Medline Jeeson C Unni 15 C OMPUTERS FOR D OCTORS A revolution of the 20th century was the invention in 1989-90 of the world wide web (WWW). The usage of the Internet took off from then on as it became possible to find and view information online. E-mailing as a mode of communication became popular and even kids now recognize Web Uniform Resource Locators (URLS) like http://www.someone.somewhere in journals, newspapers and TV as pointers to webpages. But the largely unregulated publishing and freedom on the web has made the web an enormous maze of information and disinformation making effective use of the web a process involving use of the right tools and search strategies. When we Search the Web we are not searching it directly. The web consists of innumerous webpages that reside on compu- ters (called servers) all over the world. We cannot go to them directly from our computer. We access the webpages via several intermediate databases and/or webpages, which contain selection of other webpages. These intermediate databases called search tools provide us with hypertext links (URLs) to a number of pages. We click on these links and retrieve documents, images, sound etc from individual servers around the world. SEARCH TOOLS AVAILABLE NOW Search Engines Actually how does one get started If one is looking for any specific information then you should be using a search engine.

How to Make a Good Website Vijay Agarwal 16 C OMPUTERS FOR D OCTORS INTRODUCTION To be able to create a good website it is essential to be able to evaluate one first. There are a variety of the aspects that need to be considered while evaluating a website. However, it is a good idea to remember the Four As representing: i) A ccessibility; ii) A ccuracy; iii) A ppropriateness; and iv) A ppeal. Accessibility Speed is the main issue in determining accessibility. If it takes 10 minutes for each page to load on your computer(s) then even the most fantastic site will be a pain rather than a pleasure. It doesnt make much sense to waste time waiting for pages to load when you can find another site that loads much faster and provides pretty much the same content. Finding links to other pages of the site should be well described in a site map to ensure that it is easy to navigate and find. Some sites are flashy and interesting to look at but confusing to use. Determine whether or not the time you spend trying to move throughout a site is worth the information you will find there. The number of sites on a particular subject should help you to determine this. Utility is another way of looking at this. A sites utility stands it in good stead over a long-period of time. Browsing links should preferably be an experience free from error messages, so be sure to browse the site thoroughly when you look at it. Just because the first page works, dont assume all the links to other pages do as well. The entire site should be accessible, as well as links to other pages.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows Amit P Shah 1 C OMPUTERS FOR D OCTORS A PPENDIX By learning keyboard shortc uts, you can avoid using the mouse, which usually takes more time and can also be painful. You can use keyboard actions as you build macros in your speech application; to capture it in the macro, usually you can just say the action rather than physically hitting the keys. Keyboard shortcuts can save time and the effort of switching from the keyboard to the mouse to execute simple commands. Many RSI(Repetitive Stress Injury) sufferers report that they feel less pain when typing compared to when mousing. Thus, a desire to avoid mouse as much as possible. You can save yourself some time by employing some shortcuts. Some people call them accelerators but seriously, if you know enough of these you can basically do just about everything without even using your mouse. The information in this article applies to: Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition Microsoft Windows 98 Microsoft Windows 95 Microsoft NT Please note that Windows 98 does not handle keyboard switching among the Start button, the Taskbar and the Desktop in a consistent manner, however. There is a separate list for Windows 2000 operating system which is given at the end. ABOUT F KEYS F1 Help. F2 Rename, or edit. Hit F2, with an icon selected, will let you rename the icon.