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Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT)

Dept. of Computer Science (DCS)

eScience Master or eScience Diploma Project

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Title : GP Pad: a Doctors Tablet (version 2)

• Status : proposition

• Student :

• Client : Dr Silvio Demilio cogitare[at]tpg.com.au

• Supervisor : Lynette Johns-Boast lynette.johns-boast[at]anu.edu.au

• Period : 2006 - 2007

• Keywords : e-health, databases, data cleaning, HCI

• Report

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Description

Background
2005 saw the development of a project known as GP Pad, software which utilizes a Tablet PC and a novel approach to how about computers and users should interface in relation to medicine. For example, no keyboard is permitted and no instruction manual is provided! A guiding principle behind the GPPad project is that technology should assist the practitioner reducing their workload. In achieving this, the role of the practitioner and the role of assisting technology must be clear. A practitioner performs the complex task of analyzing the information provided directly (and indirectly) by the patient and others. That analysis results in diagnosis and further investigation and/or treatments. The technology used is to enable the recording of relevant information, with as little impediment as possible, and is not to replace the key functions of the medical practitioner.

A group of hard working ANU students took my idea and created a Java based prototype. However, it like all prototypes needs further work.

The work falls into 2 broad categories, data cleansing/database populating, and prototype modification. Each of this is sufficient to make a student project on its own,

Cleansing and populating
This project is heavily reliant on databases and significant problems currently exist about the best way to sift existing data, which resides in an unfriendly format, as well as designing an interface to permit database population through more usual data entry means.

Part of this process will also involve looking at how others provide data for inclusion into something like the GP Pad as far as fields, format, encryption and so forth. For example, pathology, or radiology pictures/reports.

Once populating has occurred a full assessment of how efficiently the overall program functions can be undertaken, and it is highly likely additional fine-tuning will be needed.

Modifications
A step-by-step review will need to be conducted looking at each section of the existing prototype, some areas requiring minor adjustment, others more substantial. Depending on time, looking at efficiency improvements may also be undertaken, particularly in the area of pen movement.

Further aspects
Depending on how easy the aforementioned categories can be completed exploration of specialist modules may also be looked at. Each speciality in medicine has its own quirks and tailoring would be required for those doctors to use what is currently generic.

More Information

see Lynette for documents produced by Software Engineering students in 2005 for GP Pad version 1.

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