Our challenge in Kagoshima University Hospital--development of more useful clinical laboratory

In 1995, we newly developed a clinical laboratory system equipped with an expert system, which was named HIPOCLATES (Hospital Intelligent POwers of Clinical Laboratory Automation Technology with Expert System). Since this system includes an expert system, we have been able to support diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in clinics and begin developing a "zonal verification method" and "early-stage DIC diagnosis support system". The former is one of the individual quality control methods and we have attempted to develop a test assurance system in HIPOCLATES using this method. The latter system is to diagnosis DIC in the early phase. Here, we introduce the detail of our project using HIPOCLATES. Following the introduction HIPOCLATES, we attempted to develop a highly integrated system in physiological examinations, and succeeded in establishment PLATON (Physiological LAboratory TOtal Network system) in 1997. Thereafter, we planned a graphic reporting system named GALIREO (Graphic Assistant Laboratory Informational REport Operating system). In GALIREO, we attempted to connect the Department of Clinical Laboratory, Ultrasonic waves test room, Fiberscope test room, Department of Pathology and Surgical center by computer network. Developing these computer network system in our clinical laboratory we want to create electronic medical record linking with THINK (HIS in our hospital). We plan to make these expert system and electronic medical record available to clinical staff via a network to realize evidence-based medicine (EBM) and utilize these to support treatment and education.