MedfoLink: a powerful concept-based approach to medical report processing

摘要

MedfoLink is a software technology that applies novel system design to process and analyze text based medical reports. Through a multi-tier processing scheme, MedfoLink is able classify medical reports by various concepts (symptoms) and syndromes. The supply of symptom-based concepts is derived from the Unified Medical Language Source (UMLS). MedfoLink's processing hierarchy going from report to concept, then to syndrome, and finally to disease, allows for information to be gathered at the levels of detail needed for advanced statistical modeling. Initial trials with emergency room chief complaint reports have shown MedfoLink's potential for syndromic surveillance.