Database Monitoring

Hello everyone,

I have a question that I don't exactly know how to phrase. I am looking for the most efficient way to monitor a database(MySQL database) for changes. It is for a medical records system. There will be multiple users running the software on their local machine accessing a database on a server. I am wanting to keep the appointments screen up to date with changes made to the database, but I was hoping there is a better way to do this than to use a timer to go to the database every 5 to 10 seconds and refresh the screen regardless. It would be nice if the database could tell the applications when it has been changed. Does anyone have any suggestions?????

Thanks,
Kendal