Abstract: A document access and retrieval system for use in a hospital laboratory environment. The system permits users of a main application to obtain customized, user-specific access to various documents, internet addresses and other external links based on the application subparts or objects to which the user has authorized access. The access links appear as submenu items appearing under the Help menu associated with a selected application object. The system includes a links processor that is interconnected to a links map which correlates various software application objects with the security level of a system user. The system includes a security processor which evaluates user security data and then requests a list of available access link information from the main application. Users cannot access parts of the application to which they do not have specific access.