Doctor Thomas P. Sculco, Surgeon-in-Chief at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, explains how hospitals keep track of their patients for the benefit of that patient, and those in the future.

Dr. Sculco: Hopefully that information can be used to improve the quality of what happens to patients who come later on. At the hospital of special surgery we believe it's very important to have data in terms of the quality of the care that we provide our patients. From the time they enter the hospital through the operation, and then afterwards. And they're followed up prospectively... who knows, maybe 20 years. Look at complications, look at success of various given implants, look at hospital stays, look at infection rates. Look at any untoward event that can occur, and do it in a perspective way. So that hopefully that information can be used to improve the quality of what happens to patients who come later on.