Oncology Lifeline - A Timeline Tool for the Interdisciplinary Management of Breast Cancer Patients in a Surgical Clinic

The multidisciplinary approach to breast cancer treatment in a comprehensive breast center model can deliver a high standard of care for the patient, but it also generates a wide range of patient data that are typically left as disparate silos, and not organized or analyzed for any clinician to help with patient care. We have developed a method for the synthesis of radiology, surgery, pathology, medical oncology, and genetics information from a patient medical history in a timeline paradigm with elements of clinical decision support and quality indicators to help with decision making. A model for structuring data from the many disparate sources was developed to support enriched probing interactions. Summary views of the current knowledge from each discipline were also tightly integrated. To support the surgical management workflow, the prototype lifelines were integrated into existing clinical software, incorporating all the relevant events, decisions, and data elements.