Ranking of Information in the Computerized Problem-Oriented Patient Record

We propose a framework for a problem-oriented patient record for general practice 1 and defend that the problem-oriented medical record represents an intuitive way to organize the patient record. By adding a layer of knowledge to the electronic patient record the record system is able to better utilize the information stored in the record. If a record system is process aware, having knowledge of work processes and is able to distinguish between different contexts in use, the system can provide relevant and useful information during the handling of patients' medical problems. Information is ranked according to its relevancy in a given context by using action patterns - traces. Traces give valuable indications of what is going on during the process of patient care. Decision frames represents relevant contexts based on the information in the record. Both decision frames and traces provide an environment in which more optimal medical decisions can be made.