We studied the feasibility of using a portable lap computer (PLC) for bedside documentation of respiratory care procedures. Three Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 100 (PLCs) were used to capture and transfer the charting by phone into the hospital information system (HIS). Charting on the PLC could be done anywhere at the convenience of the therapist. Transferring data from the PLC to the HIS could be accomplished from any patient room, since all had phone jacks. Once information was entered into the HIS, it became immediately available for review on all nursing station terminals. A 39-day study of 5,019 entries was conducted using 12 therapists of whom 6 were randomly selected to carry PLCs and the other 6 used conventional ward terminals. We found that: 1) There was no statistically significant difference between PLC and nursing terminal entry in productivity or promptness of reporting; 2) Ward terminals were generally available for entry; 3) Cost, maintenance, initial training required, and therapist preference favored ward entry. We conclude that a PLC can be used in a clinical setting as a means of collecting and reporting data from the bedside, and as an input device to a larger computer system, but offers considerable disadvantages in comparison to entry at conventional terminals on the HIS if they are readily accessible.