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As with
any computer system the quality of the output is heavily dependent
on the input. Although the Isabel differential diagnostic tool is
simple and fast to use there are few pointers to follow to get the
best out of it.
- Diagnoses
produced are not arranged in any particular order
- In
order to gain accurate results from the tool the following simple
rules should be followed:
| DOs |
DON'Ts |
- DO
ENTER KEY CLINICAL FEATURES (signs, symptoms and results of basic
investigations) IN APPROPRIATE MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY. For example:
avoid using terms like "low blood sugar", INSTEAD, USE
"hypoglycaemia", and avoid saying "cold",
INSTEAD, SAY "hypothermia".
- DO
CHECK YOUR SPELLING. The results will be skewed in favour of correctly-spelled
features.
|
- DO
NOT USE NUMERICAL DATA - THE DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSTIC TOOL
DOES NOT UNDERSTAND QUANTITATIVE TERMS. For example: do not use
"WBC count 36.4", INSTEAD INTERPRET THE RESULT AND USE
"leucocytosis" OR "neutrophilia". USE
THE DROP-DOWN BOX TO SPECIFY THE AGE OF THE CHILD.
- DO
NOT USE NEGATIVE FINDINGS IN THE TEXT BOX. For example: do
not use "negative septic screen" or "urine dipstick
negative". ONLY INCLUDE RELEVANT POSITIVE FINDINGS.
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Demonstrations
of how Isabel could have reduced delays in diagnosis can be seen
from the following real life case histories:
Case
1: Child admitted to hospital with Triosomy 8 and mouth ulcers.
Remained undiagnosed for two weeks and was eventually determined
that the child had Behçets Disease.
Case
2: Child admitted to hospital with proximal muscle weakness
and fever. Remained undiagnosed for three weeks when it was determined
the child had Juvenile Dermatomyositis.
When
these clinical features in the above patients were entered into
Isabel, both the illnesses came up in the list of differential diagnoses
produced. This would have prompted the doctors to consider these
illnesses and start investigations into them. Both children could
then have received appropriate treatment more quickly and discharged
earlier if Isabel had been consulted.
Isabel IN BRIEF
| WHAT IS Isabel?
| WHY DO WE NEED Isabel?
| HOW DOES Isabel WORK?
HOW TO USE Isabel
| VALIDATION PROCESS
| HOW DID Isabel START?
THE Isabel TEAM
| BUDGET
|