MUMPS

MUMPS (Massachusetts General Hospital Utility Multi-Programming System), also known as M or MUMPS programming language, is a high-level programming language with an integrated database management system. It was originally developed in the late 1960s for the healthcare industry, particularly for managing hospital information systems.

History

MUMPS was created by Dr. Octo Barnett and his team at the Massachusetts General Hospital in 1966. The language was designed to handle the complex data structures and high transaction volumes typical of hospital information systems. It quickly gained popularity in the healthcare sector and was later adopted by other industries requiring robust database management capabilities.

Features

MUMPS is known for its unique features, including:

• **Integrated Database**: MUMPS combines a programming language with a database management system, allowing for seamless data manipulation and storage.
• **Hierarchical Data Storage**: The language uses a hierarchical database model, which is well-suited for representing complex data relationships.
• **String Handling**: MUMPS has powerful string manipulation capabilities, making it ideal for processing textual data.
• **Concurrency Control**: The language includes built-in mechanisms for managing concurrent access to data, ensuring data integrity in multi-user environments.

Syntax and Structure

MUMPS syntax is distinct from other programming languages. It uses a minimalistic approach with a focus on brevity and efficiency. Key elements of MUMPS syntax include:

• **Commands**: MUMPS commands are typically one or two letters long, such as `SET`, `WRITE`, and `IF`.
• **Global Variables**: Data is stored in global variables, which are accessible across different parts of the program.
• **Routines**: Code is organized into routines, which are similar to functions or procedures in other languages.

Applications

MUMPS is primarily used in the healthcare industry for electronic health record (EHR) systems, laboratory information systems, and other medical applications. Notable systems that use MUMPS include:

• VistA (Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture)
• Epic Systems
• InterSystems Caché

Community and Standards

The MUMPS community is supported by various organizations, including the MUMPS Users Group (MUG) and the MUMPS Development Committee. The language is standardized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

See Also

• Database management system
• Programming language
• Electronic health record
• Massachusetts General Hospital
• VistA