Computers Can Change Cardiology

DR. ROBERT P. GRANT, the late Director of the National Heart Institute, initiated a major clinical research program in 1966 to improve the treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction and our understanding of the disease. In addition to the support of specific research, a network of myocardial infarction research units was envisioned with a shared purpose in the accurate description of the disease, its natural history, and response to therapy. It was largely these latter considerations which led Dr. Grant and his successors to allocate sufficient monies so that each Myocardial Infarction Research Unit could develop a sophisticated computer-based information management system. Certain of the MIRUs focused on the development of systems for acquiring physiologic data from patients while others worked on systems for the collection, storage, and handling of both discrete and categoric data. The MIRU directors and leaders at the National Heart and Lung Institute felt an important responsibility to explore the potential offered by computer systems to develop something which would have an impact on the study of cardiovascular disease-an impact greater than that which might be anticipated as the result of any single research project or collection of projects. During the past 5 years, I have had the opportunity to examine a number of computer systems which are being used for cardiovascular studies, and I have had the privilege of associating with many investigators who are dedicated to developing the full potential of this new technology. Much of the interest has been focused on methods for improving the speed and reliability of what we already know how to do. I have no doubt that these are worthwhile projects that will contribute to medical practice, research, and education. I am convinced, however, that the computer offers a greater potential-not unlike the impact of methods of tissue culture to research, of the electron microscope to diagnosis, and of cardiopulmonary bypass to treatment of patients with heart disease. The potential I speak of is that