A system for graphical display of clinical laboratory data

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Clinical Decision Support

Background:

• Patient management decisions in referral centers often rely on numerous laboratory tests.
• Existing decision support systems inadequately address laboratory tests for management decisions, particularly time-series data.
• Conventional tabular reports may be less effective than graphical displays for time-related laboratory results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an easily usable system for the graphical display of time-related laboratory results.
• To facilitate patient management decision-making through enhanced data visualization.

Main Methods:

• Development of a user-friendly system for graphical display of time-series laboratory data.
• Implementation of features for patient, test, and time period selection.
• Inclusion of diverse graphical display formats.

Main Results:

• The developed system provides physicians with a convenient and rapid means to access and visualize time-related laboratory data.
• Physician acceptance of the graphical display system has been enthusiastic.
• The system effectively supports the selection of patient, test, and time periods for review.

Conclusions:

• Graphical presentation of time-related laboratory results can significantly enhance patient management decision-making.
• User-friendly design and attention to human factors are crucial for physician acceptance of computer-based clinical aids.
• This approach offers a promising avenue for improving the utility of laboratory data in clinical practice.