• Never before has so much medical information been available for the physician.
• Never before has the practice of billing and collecting for medical services rendered and also the scheduling and coordinating of services among multiple providers been so complicated.
• Never before has a “super machine” been more needed to assist with all aspects of a busy practice. We live in the age of information. The need for a device to organize and correlate all this information has never been greater.

The computer has become an integral tool of the medical office. It is used to organize and categorize thousands of bits of information required to accurately record patient care, transmit information to others at distant points, and maintain an orderly record of all the activities of the business.

In this chapter you will learn about the many aspects of using a computer in a medical practice. Regardless of your past experience with computers, after you complete this chapter, you will have a growing awareness and respect for the marvelous technology it represents. You may even become enthusiastic about the possibilities of its many uses.