CDS refers to a variety of tools and technologies designed to assist healthcare professionals in making informed decisions about patient care. These tools can range from simple reminders and alerts to complex algorithms that analyze patient data and provide recommendations.
EBM is an approach to medical practice that emphasizes the use of the best available evidence from scientific research to guide clinical decision-making. CDS systems often incorporate EBM principles to provide recommendations based on the latest research and guidelines.
Alert fatigue occurs when healthcare providers are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of alerts and notifications generated by CDS systems. This can lead to important alerts being ignored or overlooked, compromising patient safety.
Clinical pathways, also known as care pathways or critical pathways, are structured multidisciplinary plans of care that outline the key steps in the management of a particular condition or treatment. CDS systems may incorporate clinical pathways to help standardize care and improve outcomes.
Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence (AI) that enables computers to learn from data and improve their performance over time without being explicitly programmed. CDS systems can leverage machine learning algorithms to analyze large datasets and identify patterns that may not be apparent to human clinicians.
Interoperability refers to the ability of different systems and devices to exchange and interpret data. In the context of CDS, interoperability is crucial for integrating data from electronic health records (EHRs), laboratory systems, imaging systems, and other sources to provide comprehensive decision support.
CDS rules are predefined criteria or algorithms used to generate alerts, reminders, or recommendations within a CDS system. These rules can be based on clinical guidelines, best practices, or institution-specific protocols.
NLP is a branch of artificial intelligence that enables computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language. CDS systems may use NLP algorithms to extract relevant information from clinical notes, research articles, and other unstructured text sources.
Usability refers to the ease of use and user experience of a CDS system. A well-designed CDS system should be intuitive, efficient, and user-friendly, allowing healthcare providers to quickly access relevant information and recommendations at the point of care.
Shared decision making is a collaborative approach to healthcare decision making in which patients and providers work together to make decisions that align with the patient’s values, preferences, and goals. CDS systems can support shared decision making by providing patients with personalized information and treatment options.