Knowledge Coupling New Premises and New Tools for Medical Care and Education

Knowledge Coupling discusses the premises upon which the coupling of knowledge to every action is based in the practice of medicine, as well as why these premises must change. In concrete terms, the volume explores the methods of structuring and using medical knowledge and medical records that enables implementation of new premises; it sets forth a specific approach to use of the computer. The work examines the new roles and skills that will be demanded of both patients and health care providers within the system based on these new premises. The author takes into account the broad implications of his philosophy for the social, economic, educational, and political structuring of the health care system.

1 Summary.- 1 The Database: Its Definition and Present Status.- 2 Summary.- 2 The Problem List.- 3 Summary.- 3 The Initial Plan.- 4 Summary.- 4 The Progress Notes.- 5 Flowsheets.- 6 Summary.- 6 The Discharge Summary and Data Reduction.- 7 Summary.- 7 The Building and Editing of Problem Knowledge Couplers.- 8 Summary.- 8 Implications of the Computerized Problem Oriented Medical Record and Knowledge Coupling Tools.- 9 Summary.- 9 Interdependencies and Potential Synergies.- 10 Summary.- 10 General Implications for Education.- 11 Summary.- 11 Can the Present Infrastructure of Medicine Support Radical Change in Premises and Tools?.- 12 Summary.- 12 Conclusion.- 13 The Perspective of a Practitioner.- 14 Comments From Other Medical Practitioners.- 15 Problem Knowledge Couplers and Their Use in Dentistry.- 16 Problem Knowledge Couplers in Veterinary Medicine.- Appendices.- C Samples of Introductions to Individual Couplers.- References.- Select Bibliography.