Search

Purpose - Reports on the trial of an automated order routine for the University Library in Newcastle which began in April 1966. Design/methodology/approach - Presents the author's experiences of the manual order processing system, and the impetus for trialling an automated system. The stages of the automated system are described in detail. Findings - Time spent on processing recommendation slips was reduced by 30 percent using the automated system. Important data and printouts can be produced which should lead to a reduction in clerical time and enable accounting to be done automatically. Originality/value - The paper has historical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: CLEF is an MRC sponsored project in the E-Science programme that aims to establish methodologies and a technical infrastructure for the next generation of integrated clinical and bioscience research.Methods: The heart of the CLEF approach to this challenge is to design and develop a pseudonymised repository of histories of cancer patients that can be accessed by researchers. Robust mechanisms and policies have been developed to ensure that patient privacy and confidentiality are preserved while delivering a repository of such medically rich information for the purposes of scientific research.Results: This paper summarises the overall approach adopted by CLEF to meet data protection requirements, including the data flows, pseudonymisation measures and additional monitoring policies that are currently being developed.Conclusion: Once evaluated, it is hoped that the CLEF approach can serve as a model for other distributed electronic health record repositories to be accessed for research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]