title: Issues in computer-based decision support in public health illustrated using projects involving childhood immunization.
abstract: The article discusses issues that arise in implementing computer-based decision support using childhood immunization as a source of examples. The examples include (1) IMM/Serve, a program that provides patient-specific recommendations, (2) informatics tools developed to help validate IMM/Serve's knowledge and functionality, and (3) tools developed to explore how computers can help ensure immunization data quality. Issues discussed include the complexity of creating computer-based decision support, the need for a continuing process of revision and testing as the health field evolves over time, and the potential value of computer-based tools to assist in this process.
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Informatics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, P.O. Box 208009, New Haven, CT 06520-8009, USA. perry.miller@yale.edu
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Frawley
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Sayward
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003658:Decision Making, Computer-Assisted; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008490:Medical Informatics; D016730:Program Development; D011635:Public Health Administration; D014481:United States