Good clinical practice is based on a continuous reevaluation of one's own work as compared with published standards. That which limits particularly the private practitioner from examining and publishing his data, is not the lack of desire, but the scarcity of opportunities and resources to do so. Computers as tools for data retrieval and analysis for research purposes and patient management have been available for some time. They have been of limited utility for most surgeons because of an inhibiting size and/or training period, and illogical design. The authors discuss the limitations of much of the available computer "tools," and present a system, METABASE, specifically designed for colon and rectal surgeons to use in their private practices for data retrieval and analysis.