Database reusability in intelligent medical systems

The primary motivation to reuse database components is to reduce the time and the effort required when building a conceptual model, actually a database. Because the quality of software systems is enhanced by reusing quality software artifacts, similarly, reusable database components can influence logical and physical database design and database maintenance, as well as quality. At the same time reusable database components can be compared with pattern technology, understanding pattern as a reusable database component. The pattern technology guides the user by observations and measurements to the identification of potentially useful patterns. Such patterns are suggestions, not prescriptions and are subject to change; they should be adopted, reformed and improved if needed. Usually they are not connected to a specific functional or business application domain. They can be used in many different environments, including medicine. According to different definitions, an intelligent system is a "power tool for thinking" but on the other side it is only a kind of information system with built-in knowledge to support decisions made by human experts. Similarly we could conclude for intelligent medical systems and introduce the database reusability in this environment in order to increase the quality of an intelligent medical system. The problem of database reusability is presented in detail, especially its integration in an intelligent medical system. Finally the results of such an integration and the benefits for medicine are discussed.