The article "The Problem-Oriented Medical Record: Experiences in a Community Military Hospital" by Juan Aranda strongly supports the use of the problem-oriented system. (See the section of the article identified as "Results" and "Comment" rather than the abstract). Even more support might have been forthcoming if the following had been considered.
There is a vast difference between the mere use of a problem-oriented record and the utilization of the entire problem-oriented system. The problem-oriented record is the vehicle one uses to accomplish an objective. Dr. Weed1 has never claimed that the record would guarantee anything. He has said that a carefully executed problem-oriented record will allow one to assess the quality of patient care, education, and other factors.1,2,3,4
How does one assess the quality of patient care, education, and other factors? The problem-oriented record is the first step of the four-step system that includes ( 1) the establishment of