Survey and critique of time and medical records

Although medical records are an example of a temporal database application, they are not satisfactorily supported by existing temporal and non-temporal data models. A new model and corresponding algebra is needed that can support the requirements of medical records. In this paper we identify the requirements medical records impose on a temporal model and highlight the discrepancies in existing models in light of these needs. We conclude the paper with a brief outline of how we approach the development of an extendible, temporal model for supporting medical record-based applications.