title: A decision support model for prescribing internal cardiac defibrillators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Automatic internal cardiac defibrillators have various indications for placement. However, some patients may not fully benefit from this technology and the devices are expensive. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to describe a development model for clinical decision support to help providers offer their patients a more effective decision-making process.
  
  
  METHODS
  A decision tree was built based on previous trials described in the cardiac literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A decision-making model for implanting these expensive but lifesaving devices is developed and a model for testing them (pre- and post-implantation) is described.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The model could be used to develop prospective trials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The paper demonstrates that the project's goal is better quality and cost-effective care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology/Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. bloomfield.eric@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Eric L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Bloomfield
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kauten
authors.forename: Mel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ocampo
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: McGhee
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kusumoto
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000628:therapy*; D057189:Checklist; D003663:Decision Trees; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans