The Surgical Illustrator: a web enabled computer program for documenting clinical and procedural details.

The medical record not only stores information on actions taken regarding patient care but it is also a source of education for those who read it. Nurses, residents, interns, students and consulting clinicians look to the medical record to gain an understanding of clinical disease and the diagnostic studies and treatment regimens used to affect the disease. We have presented our initial findings and our framework for developing and evaluating The Surgical Illustrator, a software program that will enable clinicians to include in EMRs information that is usually hand drawn in traditional medical records. The future of the EMR will be a direct result of research and development devoted to creating innovative means of conveying clinically pertinent data. Our goal is to make a major contribution to this effort.