Application of computers in renal units : a question of time?

The application of computers for day-to-day patient care in renal units is still in its infancy, but the renal unit seems to be well suited for automation, because a computer may carry out functions that are often done badly or inefficiently or not at all. A data base system allows better access to information about patients and may improve the organisation of a center. Kinetic modelling can help to optimize treatment schedules and regimens. Computer-monitoring may improve the safety of dialysis, particularly home dialysis. The introduction of computers into the renal unit has been slow and hesitant. Responsible for this is the difficulty of defining exactly what data are necessary to treat renal patients. Economic benefit and improvement in patient care are also difficult to indicate. Lack of communication between computers and people still has its impact. However, those physicians and nurses who fully understand and master the area of nephrology and dialysis may appreciate the help of a computer. Finally, it can be concluded that interest for computers is more or less omnipresent. Realizing that the entire field of computer technology is continuously in motion, it can be speculated that the broad application of computers in renal units is just a question of time.