ROLE OF A DIGITAL COMPUTER IN A DIAGNOSTIC CENTER.

The digital computer is now used in diagnostic centers for the analysis of medical signals. In one location, a health-department clinic, routine electrocardiograms and spirograms are sent daily by telephone to the central computer facility. The computer analysis is returned by teletype to the clinic. In another setting, the computer is used to interpret ECGs obtained in a mass screening project. A third use of the computer involves obtaining ECGs in the patient's home, with transmission individually by telephone. In each situation, the computer allows delegation of a routine task from man to machine.