Physician attitudes toward computerized practice guidelines.

Computerized information systems are gaining ground in quality improvement, and will become even more important as health plans implement, evaluate, and maintain clinical guidelines. PacifiCare of California explored physicians' attitudes toward applying computerized technologies to direct clinical guidelines. The results indicate not only physician acceptance factors, but illustrate the issues, such as information for medical decision making, that health plans must consider in developing computerized case management systems to manage the care of the chronically ill.