STARFLEET DATABASE FILE: EMH

Emergency Medical Holographic Doctor. The Emergency Medical Holographic Program is a holographic projection, created and controlled by the computer, that can treat patients in the event that the usual doctor is not available. It contains the information of over 2,000 medical refernece sources, and the experience of 47 medical officers. The program to control the doctor is part of the ship's computer and cannot be removed or transferred. The Holographic Doctor's program was written by Lewis Zimmerman, who based the appearance of the doctor on himself. Lt. Reginald Barclay, of the Enterprise-D, also helped some. The doctor can access entire medical databases, covering options and diagnoses that a normal doctor could not think of, making it in some ways superior. Unfortunately, the holographic doctor can not leave sicbay, although its program can be transferred to the holodeck if needed.
 
The doctor has to ability to modify his own program, adding new sections and modules to itself. The Voyager's doctor has developed better bedside manners after complaints from the crew.
