A FMP/Web based Interface Module to Enhance Patient-Care Services in Andrology

Jannie Woo, Ph.D. and Siddhartha Sarkar, Ph.D.

SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY

Abstract:

A Department of Pathology Web site was launched in 1997 in support of research, education, and patient-care. Modules of different medical disciplines have since been developed for medical student/pathology resident teaching and for enhancing pathology and clinical laboratory services. We recently developed a Web page for the Andrology Laboratory of Clinical Pathology that specializes in infertility testing. The major tasks involve sperm motion analysis and semen-wash that are pre-requisites to the procedure of artificial insemination. Presently, patient reports are generated from a computer-integrated analyzer that performs both cell motion and cell morphometry. While the analyses are detailed and in-depth, the data generated are complex and the significance of the analysis is often masked by the reporting style inherent with the analyzer.

The Andrology Web page aims at functioning both as a reporting module and a continuing education resource for physicians, residents, and senior students. The focal point is a FileMaker Pro (FMP) database that accepts patient demographics input electronically from the Laboratory Computing System (LIS) and ASCII data from the sperm analyzer. A Web-based report is immediately generated via a built-in FMP/Web based interface. Clinicians with passwords may view current reports or review previous results to aid in diagnosis. They may also provide feedback to the Laboratory regarding their needs and concerns. As educational resource, a glossary of terms pertaining to the methods of analysis and clinical relevance may be accessed without password restriction. These glossary terms are also linked to PubMed for retrieval of current citations.

The Andrology Web page serves to improve patient care by expediting Andrology result reporting and stimulating communications among the clinicians and the laboratory staff. It also provides a platform for continuing education to healthcare affiliated individuals.

Benefit in Attending Session:

Participants will appreciate from this session:

· The value of an integrated database in the organization of information

· The versatility of displaying database information on Internet via a built-in Web-based interface

· The timeliness of result reporting via the Internet

· The educational value of creating direct PUBMED links for convenient & time-saving information retrieval

PRIMARY AUTHOR'S INFORMATION

Jannie Woo, Ph.D.

Department of Pathology

SUNY Upstate Medical University

750 E Adams Street

Syracuse, NY 13210

Telephone Number: 315-464-6717

Fax Number: 315-464-7130

E-mail Address: mailto:wooj@upstate.edu

Web Site: http://www.hscsyr.edu/~pathology

CO-AUTHORS' INFORMATION

Siddhartha Sarkar, Ph.D.

Department of Pathology

SUNY Upstate Medical University

750 E Adams Street

Syracuse, NY 13210

Telephone Number(s): 315-464-5688

Fax Number(s): 315-464-6711

E-mail Address(es): sarkars@upstate.edu

Web Site(s): www.hscsyr.edu/~pathology