Diagnostic support in the Oxford System of Medicine

The Oxford System of Medicine (OSM) project was started in 1985 with the aim of producing a working specification for a decision support system for general practitioners. The feasibility of such a project seems to depend upon designing a system that is acceptable to general practitioners and acquiring, verifying and maintaining the knowledge base. The authors consider that a knowledge-based theory of decision making, coupled to strategic and policy defining knowledge about diagnosis or any other task, and separated from the simple facts of medicine could be the cornerstone for a decision support system that is flexible enough to provide a suitable environment for author, editor and general practitioner. They present an example of diagnostic consultation starting with the problem of a swelling joint