Reference: Musen, M. A.; Carlson, R. W.; Fagan, L. M.; & Deresinski, S. C. T-HELPER: Automated Support for Community-Based Clinical Research. Washington, D.C., 1991.
Abstract: There are increasing expectations that community-based physicians who care for people with HIV infection will offer their patients opportunities to enroll in clinical trials. The information requirements of clinical investigation, however, make it unrealistic for most providers who do not practice in academic centers to participate in clinical research. Our T-HELPER computer system offers community-based physicians the possibiltiy of enrolling patients in clinical trials as a component of primary care. T-HELPER faciliatates data mangement for patients with HIV disease, and can offer patient-specific and situation-specific advice concerning new protocols for which patients may be eligible and the treatment required by those protocols in which patients currently are enrolled. We are installing T-HELPER at three county-operated AIDS clinics in the San Fransisco Bay Area, and plan a comprehensive evaluation of the system and its influence on clinical research.