Medical algorithm 1551981 161982398 2007-10-03T09:52:22Z SmackBot 433328 Date/fix the maintenance tags or gen fixes {{Original research|date=October 2007}} A '''medical algorithm''' is any [[computation]], [[formula]], [[statistical survey]], [[nomogram]], or [[look-up table]], useful in [[healthcare]]. [[Medical]] [[algorithm]]s include [[decision tree]] approaches to healthcare treatment (i.e., if [[symptom]]s A, B, and C are evident, then use treatment X) and also less clear-cut tools aimed at reducing or defining uncertainty. Medical algorithms are part of a broader field which is usually fit under the aims of [[medical informatics]] and [[medical decision making]]. Medical decisions occur in several areas of medical activity including medical test selection, [[diagnosis]], therapy and [[prognosis]], and [[automatic control]] of [[medical equipment]]. In relation to [[logic]]-based and [[artificial neural network]]-based medical [[expert systems]], which are also computer applications to the medical decision making field, algorithms are less complex in architecture, data structure and user interface. Medical algorithms are not necessarily implemented using digital computers. In fact, many of them can be represented on paper, in the form of diagrams, nomographs, etc. Examples of medical algorithms are: * '''Calculators,'''. e.g., an on-line or stand-alone calculator for [[body mass index]] (BMI) when stature and body weight are given; * '''Flowcharts,''' e.g., a [[Wiktionary:binary|binary]] [[decision tree]] for deciding what is the [[etiology]] of [[chest pain]] * '''Look-up tables,''' e.g., for looking up [[food energy]] and nutritional contents of foodstuffs * '''Nomographs,''' e.g., a moving circular slide to calculate body surface area or drug dosages. The intended purpose of medical algorithms is to improve and standardize [[decision]]s made in the delivery of [[medical care]]. Medical algorithms assist in standardizing selection and application of treatment regimens, with algorithm [[automation]] intended to reduce potential introduction of errors. Some attempt to predict the outcome, for example [[ICU scoring systems|critical care scoring systems]]. A wealth of medical information exists in the form of published medical algorithms. These algorithms range from simple [[calculation]]s to complex outcome [[prediction]]s. Most [[clinician]]s use only a small subset routinely. [[Computerized]] algorithms can provide timely clinical decision support, improve adherence to [[evidence-based medicine|evidence-based]] [[guideline (medical)|guidelines]], and be a resource for education and research. In common with most science and medicine, algorithms whose contents are not wholly available for scrutiny and open to improvement should be regarded with suspicion. A grammar - the [[Arden syntax]] - exists for describing algorithms in terms of [[medical logic module]]s. An approach such as this should allow exchange of MLMs between doctors and establishments, and enrichment of the common stock of tools. Medical algorithms based on best practice can assist everyone involved in delivery of standardized treatment via a wide range of clinical care providers. Many are presented as [[Clinical trial protocol|protocol]]s and it is a key task in training to ensure people step outside the protocol when necessary. In our present state of knowledge, generating hints and producing guidelines may be less satisfying to the authors, but more appropriate. [[Computation]]s obtained from medical algorithms should be compared with, and tempered by, clinical knowledge and [[physician]] judgment. A common class of algorithms are embedded in guidelines on the choice of treatments produced by many national, state, financial and local healthcare organisations and provided as knowledge resources for day to day use and for induction of new physicians. A field which has gained particular attention is the choice of medications for psychiatric conditions. In the United Kingdom guidelines or algorithms for this have been produced by most of the circa 500 primary care trusts, substantially all of the circa 100 secondary care psychiatric units and many of the circa 10 000 general practices. In the US there is a national (federal) initiative to provide them for all states, and by 2005 six states were adapting the approach of the [[Texas Medication Algorithm Project]] or otherwise working on their production. ==See also== * ''[[Treatment Guidelines from The Medical Letter]]'' * [[Medical informatics]] * [[Medical decision making]] * [[Evidence-based medicine]] * [[Consensus (medical)]] * [[Guideline (medical)]] * [[Journal club|Journal Club]] ==External links== * [http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/fieldmanual.htm AlternativeMentalHealth.com] - 'Alternative Health Medical Evaluation Field Manual', Lorrin M. Koran, MD, [[Stanford University]] Medical Center (1991) * [http://medal.org MedAl.org] - 'The Medical Algorithms Project' * [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=419420 NIH.gov] - 'Automated Medical Algorithms: Issues for Medical Errors', Kathy A. Johnson, PhD, John R. Svirbely, MD, M. G. Sriram, PHD, Jack W. Smith, MD, PHD, Gareth Kantor, MD, and Jorge Raul Rodriguez, MD, ''[[Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association]]'' * [http://www.regenstrief.org/ Regenstrief Institute] *[http://www.internal-med.org/palm.htm MedFormula - a palm pilot based medical algorithm/calculator] [[Category:Medical informatics]] [[Category:Algorithms]] [[Category:Knowledge representation]]