Larry Sheingorn, MD, was an ophthalmologist in Rockville, Maryland for more than 20 years. Diagnosed with cancer in 2001, he continued to work until December, 2003. Larry was very active in Montgomery Community Television, inventing and computer programming. He held a number of patents, mostly on ophthalmic equipment, and he wrote the computer program that ran his office. Larry passed away on May 6, 2005.
An article from MD Computing appears below.
“DAYSHEET”
As 512K RAM/10 megabyte disk computer systems become more commonplace, we sometimes forget what can be done with older, more common, 64K, Z80-based 8 bit machines, and efficient programming.
Larry Sheingorn, MD, of Rockville, Maryland, uses a $44.00 Sinclair 2X81 computer to run his clinical ophthalmology practice. With additional memory, keyboard, and 80 column printer, the system cost approximately $1,000.
Lack of disks prevents large amounts of data being “on-line”, but the program will soon be modified to take advantage of other, disk based systems, including CP/M, Commodore, Apple, and IBM devices.
The cost of fully configured systems will be from 1/5th to 1/10th of those currently on the market.
The program essentially creates a file called “daysheet”; disk-based versions will store multiple files in RAM and/or disk. The “day” consists of up to 25 patient encounters, and each encounter can have up to five procedures. A “day” can also have up to 25 of “ROAs” (received on accounts), and daily expenses are grouped in 20 different categories*
A menu oriented structure allows an untrained operator to use the computer almost immediately. Obviously, the user is completely unaware oE updating “files”, “records”, or “fields”.
A day’s appointments are generally entered into the device at a convenient time, and the day is saved on magnetic tape. As the day progresses, appointments and other transactions are made in real time.
At any time, a printed schedule, properly ordered, as well as chart forms for all “new” patients can be prepared with appropriate, single, keystrokes.
Insurance ready bills are generated with a keystroke for one or all patients, using data entered during the day, without having to consult CPT or ICD code books.
Patient educational materials are also available thru simple responses to various menus.
