Abstract

A method is provided which facilitates diagnosis of any describable condition or event. One example is specialty related medical conditions and diseases. The method first provides, in a computer accessible data base, for the creation of a plurality of master maps using keywords and a new diagnostic mapping language. Then a medical description of a patient's history and physical information is input into a computer using simple medical file language. Chemical and test data information are displayed on the screen to prompt entry of available chemical and test data for the patient, and this may also be practiced for imaging selections which may be in a yes/no/empty format. Using a computer processor a data base of specialty medical information is searched to determine the degree of similarity between the information entered and the master maps, and the possible diagnoses are ranked based on the degree of similarity. The three most probable diagnoses are displayed on a monitor, such as in the form of horizontal bar graphics which bar graph is a first color in a horizontal field and the diagnosis corresponding to the bar graph is in the same field in a different color. Biopsy and imaging icons, which are miniature versions of actual biopsies or images exemplary of the disease or condition, may be selected. The computer and data base may be used in a catalog mode, in addition to the above-description analytical mode, by displaying on the screen options relating to the biopsy, imaging, management (a condensed opinion and textual information about how to understand and treat a particular disease or medical condition) and bibliography (a listing of suggested readings).

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