DECISION-SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN HEALTH-CARE

This paper delineates the application of decision support systems in t he healthcare arena. An overview of decision support systems in the he althcare environment in the last three to five years, mostly in the US A and the UK is provided. Some reference is made to work in South Afri ca. Although this report endeavours to emphasise the decision support system side, some operations research issues are also addressed. This paper is divided into several sections: decision support systems defin ition, techniques used, the use of operations research in specific are as of healthcare, information systems, assessment of decision support systems, inhouse development, decision support in South Africa and fut ure of decision support systems.