Computing at the Information Sciences Division, Rockland State Hospital

Abstract

The activities of the Information Sciences Division include research in bio-mathematics, statistics and computer science, development of information systems, and service to the Research Center in such areas as programming, statistical analyses of data, business and administrative applications of computer technology and on-line data collection. The major project of the Information Sciences Division is the Multi-State Information System for Psychiatric Patients. This record keeping system collects information on all phases of patient experience. Data is collected at terminals located in participating facilities on optical scan forms and transmitted to the central computing facility at Rockland State Hospital. Reports reflecting the information collected are returned to the terminal. Terminals consisting of an optical mark page reader, a card reader, a line printer, and a keypunch are located in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont and Washington, D.C. Rhode Island also participates but mails its data to New York for processing.