DESIGN OF A CLINICAL EVENT MONITOR

The issues and implementation of a clinical event monitor are describe d. An event monitor generates messages for providers, patients, and or ganizations based on clinical events and patient data. For example, an order for a medication might trigger the generation of a warning abou t a drug interaction. A model based on the active database literature has as its main components an event (which triggers a rule to fire), a condition (which tests whether an action ought to be performed), and an action (often the generation of a message). The details of implemen ting such a monitor are described, using as an example the Columbia-Pr esbyterian Medical Center clinical event monitor, which is based on th e Arden Syntax for Medical Logic Modules. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc .