Concept Processing
Encyclopedia
Concept Processing is a technology that uses an artificial intelligence engine to provide flexible user interfaces. This technology is used in some Electronic Medical Record
(EMR) software applications, as an alternative to the more rigid template-based technology.
, and concept processing.
selects either a general, symptom-based or diagnosis-based template pre-fabricated for the type of case at that moment, making it specific through use of forms, pick-lists, check-boxes and free-text boxes. This method became predominant especially in Emergency Room Medicine during the late 1990's.
technology and Boolean logic
, Concept Processing attempts to mirror the mind of each physician by recalling elements from past cases that are the same or similar to the case being seen at that moment.
One reason behind the slow EMR adoption rate among physicians is the lack of an acceptable user interface. Filling out electronic forms, searching through pick-lists, and forcing patients into preset boilerplates have all put physicians off the switch to electronic charting.
Template-based software can slow physicians down, rather than making documentation easier. Most significantly, if the software is made to serve physicians, they should not be forced to conform to the computer; the computer must conform to the physician. Concept Processing is a reaction to this age-old user interface problem.
A Concept Processor brings forward the closest previous encounter in relation to the one being seen at that moment, putting that case in front of the physician for fine-tuning.
There are only three possibilities of cases : The closest encounter could be identical to the current encounter (not an impossible event). It could be similar to the current note, or it could be a rare new case.
If the closest encounter is identical to your present one, the physician has effectively completed charting. A Concept Processor will pull through all the related information needed.
If the encounter is similar but not identical, the physician modifies the differences from the closest case using hand-writing recognition, voice recognition, or keyboard. A Concept Processor then memorizes all the changes, so that when the next encounter falls between two similar cases, the editing is cut in half, and then by a quarter for the next case, and then by an eighth....and so on. In fact, the more a Concept Processor is used, the faster and smarter it becomes.
Concept Processing also can be used for rare cases. These are usually combinations of SOAP note
elements, which in themselves are not rare. If the text of each element is saved for a given type of case, there will be elements available to use with other cases, even though the other cases may not be similar overall.
The role of a concept processor is simply to reflect that thinking process accurately in a doctor’s own words.
Electronic medical record
An electronic medical record is a computerized medical record created in an organization that delivers care, such as a hospital or physician's office...
(EMR) software applications, as an alternative to the more rigid template-based technology.
Some methods of data entry in electronic medical records
The most widespread methods of data entry into an EMR are templates, voice recognition, transcriptionMedical transcription
Medical transcription, also known as MT, is an allied health profession, which deals in the process of transcription, or converting voice-recorded reports as dictated by physicians and/or other healthcare professionals, into text format.-History:...
, and concept processing.
Templates
The physicianPhysician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
selects either a general, symptom-based or diagnosis-based template pre-fabricated for the type of case at that moment, making it specific through use of forms, pick-lists, check-boxes and free-text boxes. This method became predominant especially in Emergency Room Medicine during the late 1990's.
Voice recognition
The physician dictates into a computer voice recognition device that enters the data directly into a free-text area of the EMR.Transcription
The physician dictates the case into a recording device, which is then sent to a transcriptionist for entry into the EMR, usually into free text areas.Concept Processing
Based on artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
technology and Boolean logic
Boolean logic
Boolean algebra is a logical calculus of truth values, developed by George Boole in the 1840s. It resembles the algebra of real numbers, but with the numeric operations of multiplication xy, addition x + y, and negation −x replaced by the respective logical operations of...
, Concept Processing attempts to mirror the mind of each physician by recalling elements from past cases that are the same or similar to the case being seen at that moment.
The theory behind Concept Processing
For years the US healthcare industry has been heralding the widespread adoption of Electronic Medical Records throughout the nation. However, the reality is that up to now most doctors have not been convinced the technology will help their specific clinical needs.One reason behind the slow EMR adoption rate among physicians is the lack of an acceptable user interface. Filling out electronic forms, searching through pick-lists, and forcing patients into preset boilerplates have all put physicians off the switch to electronic charting.
Template-based software can slow physicians down, rather than making documentation easier. Most significantly, if the software is made to serve physicians, they should not be forced to conform to the computer; the computer must conform to the physician. Concept Processing is a reaction to this age-old user interface problem.
How Concept Processing works
For every physician the bell-shaped curve effect is found, representing a frequency distribution of case types. Some cases are so rare that physicians will have never handled them before. The majority of other cases become repetitive, and are found on top of this bell shape curve.A Concept Processor brings forward the closest previous encounter in relation to the one being seen at that moment, putting that case in front of the physician for fine-tuning.
There are only three possibilities of cases : The closest encounter could be identical to the current encounter (not an impossible event). It could be similar to the current note, or it could be a rare new case.
If the closest encounter is identical to your present one, the physician has effectively completed charting. A Concept Processor will pull through all the related information needed.
If the encounter is similar but not identical, the physician modifies the differences from the closest case using hand-writing recognition, voice recognition, or keyboard. A Concept Processor then memorizes all the changes, so that when the next encounter falls between two similar cases, the editing is cut in half, and then by a quarter for the next case, and then by an eighth....and so on. In fact, the more a Concept Processor is used, the faster and smarter it becomes.
Concept Processing also can be used for rare cases. These are usually combinations of SOAP note
SOAP note
The SOAP note is a method of documentation employed by health care providers to write out notes in a patient's chart, along with other common formats, such as the admission note...
elements, which in themselves are not rare. If the text of each element is saved for a given type of case, there will be elements available to use with other cases, even though the other cases may not be similar overall.
The role of a concept processor is simply to reflect that thinking process accurately in a doctor’s own words.
See also
- Electronic health recordElectronic Health RecordAn electronic health record is an evolving concept defined as a systematic collection of electronic health information about individual patients or populations...
- Electronic medical recordElectronic medical recordAn electronic medical record is a computerized medical record created in an organization that delivers care, such as a hospital or physician's office...
- Health informaticsHealth informatics.Health informatics is a discipline at the intersection of information science, computer science, and health care...
- Medical recordMedical recordThe terms medical record, health record, and medical chart are used somewhat interchangeably to describe the systematic documentation of a single patient's medical history and care across time within one particular health care provider's jurisdiction....
External links
- Free EMR Software On EMR Website
- Waiting Room Solutions EMR technology.
- Praxis EMR technology.
- OmniMD EMR technology.
- EMR Software based on Concept Processing technology.
- Article on Concept Processing.
- Concept Processing page on OpenClinical website.
- AvivaEMR Template-based EMR on AvivaEMR website