EHR Problem List Clustering and Terminology Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic health records (EHRs) face challenges in managing patient problem lists due to information overload, duplication, inaccuracies, and inconsistencies across different terminologies and sources, making it difficult for healthcare providers to quickly identify relevant patient issues.
Innovation Solution
A method for generating a user interface that groups and clusters related patient problems into categories and clusters, using an interface terminology to map and display relevant data such as medication, lab results, procedures, and allergies, allowing for user requests to filter and prioritize information based on clinical intent and specialty.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If problem lists include all patient problems from multiple sources, then completeness of medical record is improved, but information overload and difficulty in identifying relevant issues worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the problem list into multiple categories (e.g., active problems, resolved problems, problems by body system, problems by priority level) to organize the comprehensive patient data. This segmentation allows providers to view all problems for completeness while easily navigating to specific categories to identify relevant issues without information overload.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds dimensional organization to the problem list by categorizing problems along multiple dimensions simultaneously (chronological dimension with active/resolved status, anatomical dimension by body system, priority dimension by acuity level). This multi-dimensional organization preserves all information while enabling efficient retrieval from different perspectives.
2Adaptability or versatility
If problem lists aggregate data from multiple sources and terminologies, then portability and comprehensiveness are improved, but inaccuracies and inconsistencies worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary terminology mapping layer that translates problems from multiple source terminologies (ICD-9, ICD-10, CPT, problem list codes) into a standardized internal representation. This intermediary layer preserves the portability and comprehensiveness of aggregated data from multiple sources while ensuring consistency and accuracy through standardized mapping relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal problem list structure that can accommodate data from multiple sources and terminologies simultaneously. The standardized format serves multiple functions: it enables portability across different healthcare systems, ensures consistent representation of problems, and maintains the ability to trace back to original source terminologies when needed.
3Loss of information
If problem lists include detailed information from all sources, then thoroughness of patient history is improved, but time to review and analyze worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary organization and categorization of problems when they are added to the list, rather than requiring providers to organize them during review. Problems are pre-sorted by category, priority, and status, and pre-mapped to standardized terminologies, so that providers can immediately view organized information without spending time on analysis and reorganization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the comprehensive problem list into organized categories (active vs. resolved, by body system, by priority level) so that providers can quickly navigate to relevant segments based on their immediate needs while knowing that the complete thorough history is available in the background for reference.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for generating a user interface for analyzing a patient-specific electronic medical or health record that includes a problem list includes the steps of grouping related potential problems into problem list categories, grouping a subset of the problems into clusters within the categories, mapping, using a computer, entries in the problem list with a respective description in an interface terminology, associating one or more of other medical data, e.g., medication, lab results, procedures, imaging results, past medical history or surgeries, notes, vital signs, or allergy data in the record with at least one problem, receiving a request corresponding to a problem or problem list category or to other medical data, identifying non-problem data in the record grouped in a cluster with the requested data, and modifying a user interface to display the identified data separate from other similar medical data included in the electronic medical or health record.