Pre-compiling medical logic modules into C++ in building medical decision support systems

Development of medical knowledge bases is a time-consuming process, and no single medical institution can develop medical knowledge bases covering all areas of medicine. The use of medical knowledge representation standards such as the Arden Syntax is an attempt to enhance the writability and readability of computer-stored knowledge and facilitate transfer and sharing among institutions. A method for the realisation of decision support systems based on knowledge formulated according to the Arden Syntax is presented. An essential tool in this process is a medical logic module (MLM) pre-compiler, translating MLMs into an object-oriented programming language, C++. Advantages of the C++ approach compared with other alternatives are discussed.