A computer-based system for problem list maintenance and medical informatics

In clinical care, maintaining an accurate, up-to-date problem list for each patient is essential for effective treatment. As a result, several proposals have been made to facilitate the maintenance of such a list. Our work differs from existing proposals by defining computer-based support for inferences, i.e. the automated suggestion of new problems based on ordered tests, test results and treatments prescribed by a physician. In addition, cause-effect relationships among problems are maintained. The inference engine portion of the system is developed on a Sun workstation, while the user interface is developed as a Java applet, permitting a physician to use the system from any platform that provides Internet access