A clinical decision support system is any tool designed to assist care providers in delivering healthcare services. They encompass but are not limited to data sets analysis, pop-ups or notifications, and alerts that can better guide those within the healthcare system. While they have their immediate use pertaining to health delivery, they can also be utilized for non-health-related tasks, such as those on the administrative side of a healthcare organization.
How Does Clinical Decision Support System Work
Clinical decision support software is usually integrated into an organization’s electronic health record. Consequently, CDSS software performance is directly related to how well the integration was executed. While there are numerous benefits to CDSS, poorly implemented technologies can be exhausting: there are a number of studies suggesting that overused alerts, notifications, pop-ups, etc., have a detrimental effect on the delivery of care. By taking the focus of dedicated professionals away from their patients and diverting their attention to not-so-pressing issues – the quality of care could drop.
It is essential to choose how to implement this technology carefully. Clinical decision support systems could play a crucial role in the betterment of your organization, but only if executed according to your needs and purposes. Here at Vicert, we can leverage our decades of experience in the development of healthcare apps and solutions to help you develop and implement your CDS system and establish what features work for you and what additions would be beneficial for your organization.
Two Types of Clinical Decision Support Systems
We have briefly mentioned that CDSSs can recommend health-related solutions to practicians. This means that clinical decision support relies on machine learning algorithms. Based on the CDSS implementation, we can distinguish between two different types.
We can usually classify clinical decision support systems as either knowledge-based or non-knowledge-based. In the knowledge-based, rules (if-then) statements are created.
Knowledge based single system CDSS
Non-Knowledge based single system CDSS
In the non-knowledge-based CDSSs, AI uses the inputted data to develop solutions on its own. In this way, CDS technology can assist clinicians but not replace them.
While some fear that AI in healthcare will eventually push people out of their jobs, it is worth noting that this technology still isn’t as advanced as some may think. Instead, a clinical decision support system can assist with diagnostics, medical scans analysis, and treatment recommendations – but it cannot execute these things independently.
Clinical Decision Support Tools
Given how CDS tools can assist clinical decision-making, it is only reasonable that their utilization is on the rise. Below is the list of real-life examples where said technology has drastically improved the delivery of care.
- Cardiovascular diseases – given the nature of machine learning and possible recommendations, studies show that, for cardiovascular diseases, implementation of CDS significantly improves care services, clinical tests, and treatments
- Breast cancer – in the most common cancer type diagnosed in women, studies show that there are significant improvements when it comes to cost reduction, quality of care, and decrease of variation in care delivery
- Allergies – clinical decision support systems drastically improve the care delivered to patients suffering from allergies. With the collected data, targeted patient information, recommendations for treatment, and evidence-based clinical knowledge: CDS can change their experience for the better
Benefits of Clinical Decision Support Systems
Aside from the already mentioned benefits, CDSS can significantly improve the universal delivery of care. With the tools that aid all the clinicians globally, the standard of quality is achieved and, consequently, can be shared with the entire world.
Our Expertise
We at Vicert have already successfully developed multiple CDS solutions and are capable of determining what your product will benefit from. Instead of taking our word for it, look at some of our case studies and see for yourself!
FAQ
What is a clinical decision support system?
A clinical decision support system is an umbrella term for technologies utilized by healthcare institutions that analyze, deliver, and present appropriate patient information on demand for the betterment of clinicians, staff, or patients.
Types of clinical decision support?
There are two types of clinical decision support systems: knowledge-based and non-knowledge-based.
Why is CDS important for healthcare institutions?
Because they can improve the overall functioning of the healthcare organization and enhance the quality of care and delivery of services.