This research project examines key issues (conceptual, technical, legal, economical, and ethical) in the digitization and electronic network communication of two main types of records in the health fields: clinical and laboratory documentation. Research is being conducted over a two-year period, concluding this summer.
Our research protocol consists of two case studies:
The ultimate goal of the case studies is to develop electronic models for reference and research use of clinical records and laboratory records. We aim to produce generalizable models that may be adapted by other archival programs with documentation from the health fields.
During the first year, we researched and began to develop models for digitizing clinical and laboratory records. We conducted appraisal studies of the records, and consulted with scientists, archivists, digitization experts, and conservators in our exploration of digitization options. From our research we have concluded that any digitization plan must be driven by the intellectual content of the records. Moreover, certain discipline-specific aspects of the record will influence plans for digitization. While physical and technological obstacles are very real, the evidential and informational importance of the records must carry a heavier weight on the appraisal scale.
In early July 1996 we plan to hold a conference via the World Wide Web, for the purpose of discussing project issues. Participants will include scientists, clinicians, archivists, and librarians. During the last week in July we plan to meet in Ann Arbor to draft our final report, present our findings, and prepare a manuscript for submission to a journal.