title: Integrating and presenting clinical and treatment outcome data for cost-effective case management.
abstract: The broad objective was to develop an information system which integrates various sources of clinical data and facilities outcome assessment for patients evaluated in a lumbar spine service. During a patient encounter, the physician formulates a hypothesis regarding appropriate forms of treatment and he or she may then use this system to explore previous treatment outcomes for similar cases. The availability of a clinical tool that presents information in an outcome-oriented format may be highly relevant to the delivery of cost-efficient, high-quality health care and also create a formal mechanism for detecting practice variability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Westberg
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Spengler
mesh_terms: D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems; D003710:Demography; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012984:Software; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*