Computer Use and Attitudes in Community Mental Health Clinics

Abstract

Computer-based technology, with its ability to store, retrieve, and analyze information and deliver it to users on an unprecedented scale, has the potential to revolutionize the operation of businesses and social service organizations. Big mainframe computers already have accomplished this upheaval in the telephone, financial, and airline industries, among others. Increasingly affordable personal computers are penetrating new markets, including many small organizations. These new customers are fast learning about the obstacles to adopting computer-based technology as well. Resistence to change, false expectations of what technology can accomplish, fuzzy objectives, insufficient training, and incompatible software systems can make the changeover to computers a nightmare.