. C17 - Wednesday, August 25, 1982 - North Shore News omputer programmed to diagnose disease BOSTON (UPD) - A disease- diagnosing computer named “INTERNIST” performed as well in test cases as patients’ original doctors but did not stand up to doctors who reviewed the cases af- terward. University of Pittsburgh researchers, reporting in the New England Journal of Medicine, say computers like INTERNIST may be useful in determining possibilities for doctors handling difficult cases, but never will be used to give the final word on a patient. “There are computer programs that are beginning to . approach, in limited areas, the competence of physicians,” said Dr. Randolph Miller, principal author of the study. “But even though we're close there are still many draw- backs. There is hope that in five to 10 years we'll be there. “This program will never, ever replace doctors nor is it intended to. It’s intended to be a way to help a doctor remember things,” he said. “It's sort of like the way doctors go into textbooks now. “I as a person would never want a doctor to use a computer on me _ without having the power to override it.” INTERNIST was pitted against doctors who were at the scene, forced to make immediate decisions, and consultants who later went over the cases with the same advantage as the computer: time and access to more knowledge. The Pittsburgh team found the computer could not tell if a disease was mild or severe and often mis- diagnosed complications accompanying severe forms of the diseases, Miller said. It is likely such a system would be used only on cases that stymie physicians, he said. Using more than $1 million in grants, the Pitt- sburgh team filed descriptions of more than 500 diseases and 3,550 symptoms into the com- puter's memory base on actual cases from the New England Journal of Medicine. This comprised only about 70 per cent of what is known in internal medicine today, Miller said, so the program created an _ artificial Back to School Sale Perms Haircuts Shampoo & Set Blow Dry Cut & Blow Dry 5 x OFF - children up to 9 yrs: Haircut *5*° Alfreda’s Beauty Salon 1451] Marine Drive, West Van 926-7714 & 15 arjolin Children’s Wear Go Back to School this Fall with the latest from: Buster Brown Heaithtex Domino Teacher's Pet Kiddo Elen Henderson Absorba U.F.O. OVERALLS 20% OFF @ Plus one pair of socks free with every °35 purchase 2468 Marine Drive West van 822-0615 Monday to Saturday 10am 5 30pm situation. Technology, Rutgers decisions at Tufts-New Miller said other University, Ohio State, England Medical Centre in diagnostic computer systems University of Illinois and Boston, but they do not are being developed at many Stanford. contain medical in- institutions, including Computers are available formation, doctors there Massachusetts Institute of to help doctors make tough - said. oke School o ° CD) DO Pang, AD KCN ag Creative Dance-RAD Ballet-Jazz-Aerobic Dance Pre-School thru Adult Registration is Aug. 28th from 10-2 p.m. at the studio. For information and free brochure phone Marion McMaster MISTD, 987-3814. If no answer 987-9132 - 177 Carisbrooke Rd. Leotards, tights, ballet shoes will be on sale on registration day. e-Upholster Now 0-50% Off on selected patterns of drapery fabrics and re-upholstery Stock Fabrics e Levelor 1"’ Venetian Blinds ° Verticals & Woven Wood Blinds Fashion Home Interiors has been established 14 years on the North Shore providing excellent service to tts residents Quality Workmanship - Free Estimates Mon En 9-00 5 30 Sat 10:00 5 00 Fashion home fraceRiors |to 3050 Mountain Hwy. N.V. 988-1220 988-1525