We report on a pilot project implementing electronic data processing(EDP) in the Department of Cardiac Surgery of the University of Heidelberg,based on a concept of complete integration of a medical database systeminto everyday clinical routine. A computer network was installed and hasbeen in use since August 1988 as a department system supporting both theadministrative and the medical side of the department (documentation,information, research, archives, organization, secretarial office, billing,statistics and communication). With a computer-assisted documentationsystem and standardized data acquisition, nearly 80% of letters and reportson operations are written automatically without any further need fordictation. Automatic computer controlled follow-up has been initiated tocover all patients operated on in our hospital. The complete integration ofa new method of clinical documentation and EDP into everyday clinicalroutine and the extensive use of computer-derived information have provedto be significant advances. Our practice of computer-assisted informationmanagement and departmental organization serves the patient by; (1)providing up-to-date valid information for the clinical staff; (2)establishing and stabilizing contact and communication with physicianselsewhere, e.g. cardiologists; (3) facilitating pre- and postoperativecontact with patients; (4) helping to optimize medical treatment by routinestatistical data analysis (quality assurance); (5) creating a clear andlogical computer-assisted departmental organizational structure; (6)permitting long-term evaluation of operative results based on astandardized computer- controlled follow-up procedure; (7) improving thequality of medical and administrative data.