by Susan Eustis

Clinical diagnosis is being impacted by the decision support systems.  Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) have been a key aspect of telemedicine.  Bosch offers the ability to track and update on a daily basis, questions that are able to address actual situations that patients face.

Diagnostic support expert systems promise to revolutionize healthcare.  The mandated electronic health record (EHR) systems in all healthcare facilities, is a key enabler of diagnostic support expert systems.   The objectives are to promote better and cheaper healthcare using diagnostic support based on the patient data collected from the telemedicine systems.  With the large amount of new data collected by the newly installed EHR systems, computers like the Watson will be able to find optimal answers to clinical questions much more efficiently than the human mind.

Two major categories are diagnostic support tools and treatment support tools.  Chronic conditions requires continuous diagnostic support because a continuous flow of information on patient change in conditions helps physicians make a better diagnosis based on the patient symptoms, medications, and medical records. Treatment support helps clinicians stay compliant with known treatment guidelines such as avoiding known drug interactions, dispensing the right medication to the right patients, and staying on schedule with response to changes in patient condition.

Differential diagnostic tools support differential telemedical treatment.  The decision process take into account clinical findings form the home monitoring devices and from symptoms verbally communicated.