Computerized medical decisions in evaluating the diabetes patient

A system for computer simulation of medical reasoning is described which has been applied to classifying diabetic patients and assessing the complications due to disease. Medical knowledge is formulated into modular, interrelated inference pathways. Each module states the inference and the Boolean combinations of criteria sufficient for confirming or rejecting it. Patient data is compared to the medical logic and a status report is produced which presents the clinical findings, confirmed inferences, the diabetes evaluation score for each body system and request for additional data at the follow-up visit. After initial testing the medical logic was easily updated to fully express medical policy in our clinic. The system provides an objective and consistent method for evaluating the diabetic patient.