StarChart is the user-friendly system for viewing patient records at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. It integrates patient data from multiple sources, including lab results, radiology reports, discharge summaries, anatomic pathology, physician notes, letters, etc. The patient record is displayed as individual reports and easy-to-read spreadsheets.

StarChart replaced the MARS system at VUMC in 2001. MARS was originally developed at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in the mid-1980's. The University of Pittsburgh continues development of its implementation of MARS. The StarChart system preserves the original MARS architectural design of a distributed service model and system layer and adds a new database, parser layer, and web interface. StarChart is a database management system based on a distributed parallel processing design. The StarChart patient data repository contains more than 22 million documents including all pathology reports and clinical laboratory results; radiology reports; discharge summaries; adult and pediatric echo and cardiac catheterization reports; admission, progress, and operative notes; and physicians' letters to patients. Access to StarChart via secure TCP/IP-based queries facilitates support of advanced decision support logic in WizOrder, such as the Heparin Therapy Advisor, which depends on current and historical PTT and INR values to generate patient-specific, guideline-based recommendations.

StarChart is available through any Web browser and on all shared workstations in the Medical Center. To use StarChart, one must specifically request access and be approved by VUMC security administrators.

StarPanel is an integrated web-based application that allows access to electronic clinical information from one screen. StarPanel includes all the functionality of StarChart and allows you to view multiple patients and results at one time. The power of StarPanel is that it gives you immediate access to NEW results for all your patients.

Anyone with access to StarChart can use StarPanel. Functionality is based on role (i.e. physician, nurse, medical student, and assistant).

Primary Contact: Dario Giuse, Dr. Ing.