A relational database for storing clinical information

In medicine, we are constantly acquiring, recording, and analyzing data. Database programs give us a powerful tool to save and report our data. While spreadsheets and even word processing software can store simple datasets, the complexity of data storage needs in medicine often requires the use of a database program. Using most database software was a difficult task for the casual user until recently, when new, powerful programs were introduced by several developers. Microsoft Access, which is licensed for use with the purchase of many new computers, is an extremely powerful and relatively easy to use program written for the Windows operating systems. With this program, even novices to database programming can learn to construct useful database management systems.