Protocols and guides, tools

The author describes in the first part of the review the definitions and relations of the occurring concepts. In the second part a short history of the topic is overviewed. The third part is dealing with the electronic patient record based development of guidelines in addition what are the relations among guidelines, protocols, tools, knowledge-based systems, diagnosis supporting systems, expert systems, outcome analysis and artificial intelligence. A short review of what was presented in the MIE '97 in this area is finally described and the Session Chairman's conclusion.