Publisher's Synopsis
The first comprehensive work of its kind, this book offers healthcare providers an authoritative preview of diagnostic testing in the 1990s and beyond. In the era ahead, when managed care and restructured hospitals will be the key to high–quality, cost–effective medicine, the dynamic technologies described here will play a central role. Written by recognized experts in their respective fields, this handbook updates the reader on the latest developments and provides a blueprint for the future. Special features include:
∗ Full survey of robotics, machine vision, and automated integrated systems in diagnostic medicine
∗ Complete overview of how the clinical laboratory will be reorganized and restructured for total laboratory automation
∗ "How–to" guide for reengineering new technology in the modern hospital and planning a smooth transition to the use of robotics
∗ In–depth coverage of the theory and fundamental principles of new computer–facilitated approaches
∗ Introduction to the concept of knowledge optimization––new ways to organize and use knowledge in patient diagnosis and treatment
∗ Special material, unique to this book, on point–of–care testing––testing that is performed directly at the point of patient care, wherever that medical care is needed
∗ Clinically valuable discussions of medical decision analysis, causal reasoning, and algorithmic diagnosis
For clinical laboratory professionals, biotechnologists, pathologists, physicians, administrators, consultants, and others who need to keep up with the ongoing revolution in diagnostic medicine, the Handbook of Clinical Automation, Robotics, and Optimization is essential reading.
