Strategic Planning for IAIMS: Prototyping as a Catalyst for Change

Abstract Yale School of Medicine has developed a prototype integrated computing and information environment as part of its strategic IAIMS planning. The prototype consists of a menu system and underlying network communications programs and networks to access a variety of medical information resources at Yale and elsewhere. This prototype has been useful in testing user needs, in designing a technical architecture, in exploring related institutional issues, and as a basis for research in integrated access to medical information using UMLS tools and concepts.