requisitions, and so forth) to the proper hospital departments. The keyboard is used to
write special instructions or orders that are not available for light pen selection. Each
user is assigned an authorization code, based on his position and clearance level. The
authorization code limits the individual's capability for sending and receiving information
within the system. Printers located throughout the hospital make it possible to produce
hard copy documents, such as, patient care plans, medication-due lists, laboratory
specimen pickup lists, cumulative test result summaries, radiology reports, and
discharge summaries, wherever they are needed. Printers come in various sizes
depending on the manufacturer, but all apply printed text to paper.
Figure 3-4. The video matrix terminal (VMT) consists of a screen, a keyboard,
and a light pen.
Section III. ADMISSION TO DISCHARGE PROCEDURES
3-10. ADMISSIONS
a. Admissions Data. The admission clerk uses the special video matrix
terminal display to initiate the patient's basic record upon admission (or preadmission).
The content, which is similar in format to a conventional admitting form, is stored on the
computer. Patient information (name, rank, social security number (SSN), age, sex,
address, insurance coverage for dependents or civilian) is now available for use by
physicians, nurses, and other hospital personnel who may need the information.
b. Physician's Orders. When the physician enters his access code at a VMT,
a list of patients, known as the patient list display, appears on the screen for his review.
By selecting a particular patient he can find out what has been done so far, write new
orders, for example, an x-ray for the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, or an order to report to
the lab for blood work. He may discontinue previous orders. The new orders are
automatically printed as service requisitions and are sent to the appropriate
departments.
MD0058
3-10