Dynamic Rule Queue for Clinical Decision Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Clinical decision support systems often fail to accurately process rules that depend on multiple data inputs when not all inputs are available, leading to skipped notifications or errors, and existing methods for prompting caregivers for missing information are invasive and untimely.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that dynamically manage rules by placing them in a secondary queue when necessary data inputs are missing or outdated, with a timer to re-evaluate and execute the rule when the data becomes available, and send timely electronic messages to caregivers to provide the required information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the decision support system skips rules when data inputs are not available, then false notifications are prevented, but timely alerts may be missed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by placing rules in a secondary queue for later evaluation when data is missing, rather than immediately skipping them. This allows the system to proactively wait for and process the rule once the required data becomes available, ensuring timely notifications without false alerts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on data availability. Rules are moved between queues based on whether required data inputs are present, allowing the system to flexibly transition between skipping and processing rules as conditions change, optimizing both reliability and timeliness.
2Ease of operation
If popup data windows are used to request missing information, then caregivers can be prompted for data, but the workflow becomes invasive and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the data collection function from the main notification workflow by using a separate secondary queue. Instead of interrupting caregivers with popups, the system separates rule evaluation into two phases: initial evaluation with available data, and follow-up evaluation when data becomes available, eliminating workflow intrusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary queue acts as an intermediary mechanism between data availability and rule execution. Rather than directly prompting caregivers through invasive popups, the system uses the queue as a buffer to manage rules with missing data, allowing natural data flow without disrupting caregiver workflow.
3Measurement precision
If all required data inputs are available before rule execution, then accurate decisions are made, but notification delays occur when data is missing
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary rule evaluation when data is available, placing qualified rules in a secondary queue for later execution. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare notifications in advance when possible, ensuring both accuracy (by verifying data availability) and speed (by readying notifications for immediate sending when data becomes available).
Data Source
AI summary
A method for dynamically prompting a caregiver for pertinent information about a patient uses a computer or processor operating as a rule-based system. The method includes receiving a first data input triggering a rule in a first rule queue requiring both a first data input and at least a second data input. The method further includes determining that the second data input is not available or is outdated, placing the rule in a second rule queue for later execution, and, when the second data input is available within a selected period of time, executing the rule, or otherwise, after the selected period of time, sending an electronic message to a caregiver to take action to provide the second data input.