Decision support systems for the outpatient office. Two examples of medical expert systems

Although definitive decision-making systems remain beyond the scope of present-day applications available on the market, effective and efficient decision support systems have been developed and are entering the market place. These systems focus on very specific tasks in limited domains and can be valuable adjuncts in primary care settings. There are also a few large-scale applications with well-defined goals that have proved themselves. It is imperative to validate the organizational support and expertise underlying any expert decision support system.