title: Distributed cognition and knowledge-based controlled medical terminologies.
abstract: Controlled medical terminologies (CMTs) are playing central roles in clinical information systems and medical knowledge resource applications. As these terminologies grow, they are able to support more complex tasks but require more intensive efforts to create and maintain them. Several terminologies are evolving into knowledge bases of medical concepts. The knowledge they include is being used to support distributed cognition in two forms: complex medical decisions involving multiple people and applications, and coordination of maintenance of the terminologies themselves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Informatics, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA. James.Cimino@columbia.edu
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cimino
mesh_terms: D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D006801:Humans; D008490:Medical Informatics; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D018875:Vocabulary, Controlled