Disease diagnostic coding to facilitate evidence-based medicine: current and future perspectives

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Information Management
• Diagnostic Systems

Background:

• Technological advancements have transformed veterinary laboratory testing and diagnostics.
• Current systems allow rapid access to results but lack consistent disease coding for data aggregation.
• Distinguishing agent detection from disease manifestation is crucial for effective disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the development and utilization of a novel disease diagnosis coding system at a veterinary diagnostic laboratory.
• To establish a framework for aggregating clinical and laboratory data to support evidence-based veterinary medicine.
• To create feedback loops for continuous improvement in animal health and welfare.

Main Methods:

• Implementing a consistent, species-applicable disease diagnosis coding system for veterinary medicine.
• Developing an interface for aggregating existing clinical data, including diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes.
• Utilizing prototypes for stakeholder cooperation, collaboration, and beta testing.

Main Results:

• The first phase involves establishing a standardized disease coding system for data aggregation.
• The second phase focuses on creating an interface to integrate diverse clinical and laboratory data.
• Prototypes are under development, demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed system.

Conclusions:

• A unified disease coding system is essential for aggregating veterinary diagnostic data.
• Integrating clinical and laboratory information enhances diagnostic processes and clinical interventions.
• The developed system at Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory aims to improve animal health and welfare through evidence-based practices.