Computer Applications in Medical Care. Computer Systems in Hospitals. Clinical and Anatomic Pathology Systems: Computer-Aided Generation of Result Text for Clinical Laboratory Texts

摘要

Efficient processing of non-numeric textual data is a frequent requirement with medical computer applications such as clinical laboratory result reporting. In such instances, it is often desirable that the computer control the generation of the text to ensure that the intended meaning is conveyed. This paper describes a technique for interactively selecting predefined text segments to form complex textual reports for laboratory tests. The approach, which uses algorithms based on augmented transition network theory, has been implemented as part of a comprehensive computerized laboratory information system at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. The specific applications discussed include chemistry, hematology and microbiology laboratory result reporting. The text manipulation techniques are entirely general, and should be readily adaptable to other areas such as radiology and pathology reporting.