Kevin D. Keck

The role of compositionality in standardized problem list generation

Compositionality is the ability of a Vocabulary System to record non-atomic strings. In this manuscript we define the types of composition, which can occur. We will then propose methods for both server based and client-based composition. We will differentiate the terms Pre-Coordination, Post-Coordination, and User-Directed Coordination. A simple grammar for the recording of terms with concept level identification will be presented, with examples from the Unified Medical Language Systems (UMLS) Metathesaurus. We present an implementation of a Windows NT based client application and a remote Internet Based Vocabulary Server, which makes use of this method of compositionality. Finally we will suggest a research agenda which we believe is necessary to move forward toward a more complete understanding of compositionality. This work has the promise of paving the way toward a robust and complete Problem List Entry Tool.

Toward Terminology as Infrastructure

In the near future, high-level meetings at cancer care and research enterprises may be distracted by discussions of the terminology computers use to support collaborative interactions. Because the productivity of these enterprises will depend on comprehensive and timely terminology, discussions of terminology shortfalls may dominate management discussions until they are overcome and creating and maintaining quality terminology become part of the enterprise infrastructure. Because cancer research and care is necessarily broadly collaborative, this may happen to cancer enterprises before it happens to most other biomedical and healthcare enterprises.