The computerized electrocardiogram: A model for medical signal analysis

The most widespread use of computers by hospitals to date is for administrative purposes. In contrast to these essentially nonmedical uses, the Instrumentation Field Station of the United States Public Health Service and other medical groups have developed programs for automatic analysis of medical signals. In these systems the electrocardiogram served as the model. Typically there are two program parts, pattern recognition and diagnosis. The IFS systems are primarily for clinical use now rather than research. The analysis is performed without intervention or supervision by a physician but provides in English language form a validated diagnostic aid, frees him from routine tasks, provides more time for patient care and expedites return of medical information. These advantages make it likely that electrocardiograms, and eventually most other medical signal waveforms, will be analyzed by computers.