ed. We do the following: 1) provide an overview of diagnostic and management decision-support systems; (2) explore the background of and motivation behind these systems; (3) survey the uses of decision-support technology in office-based and inpatient pediatric practices; and (4) discuss the virtues and problems associated with some of these tools, and current controversies and future goals for computer-based decision support.
Full Text COPYRIGHT American Medical Association 1995
Editor's Note: This is another article in our series on medical informatics and computers. We hope you find it and other such articles useful.
Medical informatics is best defined as "a field of study concerned with the broad range of issues in the management and use of biomedical information, including medical computing and the study of the nature of medical information itself."[1] Decision support encompasses various projects and research. Most, but not all, decision-support methods make use of computer technology. These computer-based approaches have permeated medical environments at a rapid rate.[2] We focus on systems that facilitate medical diagnosis and patient management after a diagnosis has been established. Because medical diagnostic decision-support (MDDS) systems are a model of decision-support tools, we will address this topic in some detail. We will then focus on management decision-support tools, especially as they implement practice guidelines. This manuscript is, at best, an introduction to a rapidly evolving field. Table 1 lists sources of information that interested readers should review to keep abreast of advances in decision-support technology.
Table 1. Sources of Information About State-of-the-art
Bimonthly. Annual medical buyer's guide issue describes hardware
office practice system software programs and medical education
Inc., 175 Fifth Ave. New York, NY 10010.
Monthly. Editorial advisory board is comprised...