March 1, 2001 Volume XXXV, No. 9    Ophthalmology department
sets sights on high-tech database  PHOTO Dr. Christopher
Macdonald examines Elva Saucedo with a "slit lamp." The machine
shoots a thin beam of light, enabling doctors to closely examine
the eye.  The ophthalmology department will get a better look at
patient records, test results and clinical trends thanks to a
newly developed database. The computer system is called EyeNet.
It provides a uniform system to access patient information at
all the UTHSC ophthalmology clinics and surgical sites.
"Traditionally, each clinic has used a different information
service. It's very fragmented," said Dr. Christopher Macdonald,
director of the retina division. "We wanted a cohesive system
that coordinates the surgical needs of ophthalmologists with the
latest patient information from clinics."  Dr. Macdonald
spearheaded the effort to implement EyeNet and currently is
designing parts of the program. He has developed a similar
database at the University of Californi