COMPUTERIZED DECISION-SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN PRIMARY-CARE

Decision making by physicians is a complex and incompletely understood process, but the opportunities for computers to provide support for t his process are myriad. This chapter presents a simplified model of th e physician's decision-making process, including the weaknesses inhere nt in that process. Computerized support directed towards some of thes e weaknesses is discussed, with an emphasis on diagnostic decision sup port systems and the applicability of these systems to primary care.