Results of such tests are entered by the laboratory computer into the patient's electronic medical record. Both retrospective, and current review of the quality of patient care are possible. For such a system the data and embedded rules must be centrally stored, and maintained. Many regard email as an external form of communication, however internal mail can also be spread by electronic post, thus saving the cost of vast quantities of paper, envelopes, and waste disposal, and archive maintenance and storage space. Getting people to use e mail is a problem but getting them to to use it properly very often turns out to be even greater.
Junk email is the term used to describe the result of the unbridled use of email.
Various internal bulletin boards are created for departmental, and inter departmental ommunications such as various problem solving committees, activities,leisure, and sports groups. Although some propose the use of an automated process of removal, many see the problem not simply as a technological problem. A good secretary may be the solution. Although much medical information can be captured directly in digital format sometimes this is not possible. Surgeon's sketches, signed consent forms, correspondence from general practitioners, and electro cardiograms are some examples.