Systems and methods for clinical decision crawler agent

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for clinical decision support including a crawler agent component. The crawler agent component is adapted to receive a search parameter. The search parameter specifies a criteria for evidence data to be searched for. The crawler agent component is adapted to initiate a search of a plurality of evidence sources based at least in part on the search parameter. The search identifies the evidence data. The evidence data is utilized by the clinical decision support system to provide decision support to a healthcare provider for a patient.

1 . A clinical decision support system including:
 a processor;   a computer-readable medium encoded with a crawler agent component,   wherein the crawler agent component is configured to receive a search parameter including a context limiter;   wherein the crawler agent component initiates a simultaneous search of a plurality of evidence sources;   wherein the crawler agent component provides a link to a source of evidence data, wherein each of the plurality of evidence sources comprises one or more of PACS, RIS, and/or CVIS, wherein the search parameter comprises one or more of patient name, patient identifier, order number and/or exam type, and wherein the evidence data comprises one or more of prior exams, images, key image notes, laboratory exams and reports, allergies, pathology results, medication, alerts, and/or document images.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a recommendation component that generates a recommendation for a diagnosis and/or course of treatment for a patient based at least in part on the evidence data. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the search parameter includes an identifier for a genetic relative of the patient. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the search parameter specifies a criteria for evidence data to be searched for. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the context limiter is a domain. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the evidence data is utilized by the clinical decision support system to provide decision support to a healthcare provider for a patient, wherein at least one of the plurality of evidence sources is selected based at least in part on the context limiter, the context limiter restricting evidence to be searched for to an area in which at least one healthcare facility is located and/or healthcare facility capabilities 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the crawler agent component automatically determines a domain to search. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the domain is based at least in part on the search parameter. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the crawler agent component automatically initiates a search when the search parameter is received. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the crawler agent component is located at a first healthcare facility and wherein at least one of the plurality of evidence sources is located at a second healthcare facility, wherein the second healthcare facility is geographically remote from the first healthcare facility. 
   
   
       11 . A method for clinical decision support, the method including:
 simultaneously searching a plurality of evidence sources based at least in part on a search parameter including a context limiter, wherein the search identifies evidence data, wherein the evidence data is utilized by a clinical decision support system to provide decision support to a healthcare provider for a patient, wherein each of the plurality of evidence sources comprises one or more of PACS, RIS, and/or CVIS, wherein the search parameter comprises one or more of patient name, patient identifier, order number and/or exam type, and wherein the evidence data comprises one or more of prior exams, images, key image notes, laboratory exams and reports, allergies, pathology results, medication, alerts, and/or document images; and   providing a link to the evidence data   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving the search parameter at a crawler agent component, wherein the search parameter specifies a criteria for evidence data to be searched for, wherein the context limiter restricts evidence data to be searched for to an area in which at least one healthcare facility is located and/or healthcare facility capabilities;   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising automatically generating a diagnostic and/or treatment recommendation for the patient based at least in part on the evidence data. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the search parameter includes an identifier for a genetic relative of the patient. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising automatically selecting at least one of the plurality of evidence sources based at least in part on the search parameter. 
   
   
       16 . A computer-readable medium including a set of instructions for execution on a computer, the set of instructions including:
 a search routine that simultaneously searches a plurality of evidence sources based at least in part on a search parameter including a context limiter, wherein the search identifies evidence data, wherein the evidence data is utilized by a clinical decision support system to provide decision support to a healthcare provider for a patient, wherein each of the plurality of evidence sources comprises one or more of PACS, RIS, and/or CVIS, wherein the search parameter comprises one or more of patient name, patient identifier, order number and/or exam type, and wherein the evidence data comprises one or more of prior exams, images, key image notes, laboratory exams and reports, allergies, pathology results, medication, alerts, and/or document images; and   a link-providing routine that provides a link to the evidence data; and   
   
   
       17 . The set of instructions of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a search parameter receiving routine that receives the search parameter, wherein the search parameter specifies a criteria for evidence data to be searched for.   
   
   
       18 . The set of instructions of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of a plurality of evidence sources is selected based at least in part on the context limiter, the context limiter restricting evidence to be searched for to an area in which at least one healthcare facility is located and/or healthcare facility capabilities 
   
   
       19 . The set of instructions of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a recommendation generation routine that generates a diagnostic and/or treatment recommendation for the patient based at least in part on the evidence data.   
   
   
       20 . The set of instructions of  claim 16 , further comprising a search determination routine that automatically selects at least one of the plurality of evidence sources based at least in part on the search parameter.