Biomedical Information Dissemination : Alternative Systems.

An exercise toward determining how technology might assist the provision of biomedical information. Three present services are scrutinized as to current demand, responsiveness, and quality. The three chosen were MEDLARS (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System), the interlibrary loan service, and the network of Poison Control Centers. The author proposes an alternative that would provide for the automation of present services. This system could be implemented at a cost comparable with that of the current system, utilize existing and well-proven technology, and increase the quality of services previously described. Configurations are given to provide services from a single national center, three regional centers, and seven regional centers. Although use of the seven-center system represents a considerable increase in cost, it may offer an increased capability and opportunity for provision of additional biomedical information services. 54 pp. Ref