TIMY--a center-oriented transplant information management system.
B. H. Markus, Sandi Mitchell, R D Gordon, B Gillquist, Andreas G. Tzakis, Thomas E. Starzl · PubMed · 1988
The increasing numbers of transplants performed at the University of Pittsburgh mandated the development of a computerized data storage and retrieval facility. The manual processing of data proved to be inefficient in meeting the daily departmental needs. Throughout the design the intention was to create a system for everyday clinical use as well as for scientific purposes. Highest priority was given to two distinct features, user friendliness and flexibility. It was clear that tasks addressed to the system cannot depend on the available data base structure and report facilities but that the data base and reports have to be adjustable with reasonable time and efforts to the ever-changing needs of the clinical and scientific transplant team. The designers’ roles within the Transplant Department proved to be of great importance in meeting these requirements. In this report we describe the development and design of our center-oriented computerized kidney transplant information management system (TIMY). A scoring system for equitable allocation of kidney transplant organs1 is an integral part. Similar systems are currently in use for the liver transplant program and to some extent for the heart transplant service.