The Columbia University Experience: Infobuttons and the Infobutton Manager

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The Columbia University Experience Infobuttons
and the Infobutton Manager

• James J. Cimino, M.D.
• Department of Biomedical Informatics
• Columbia University College of Physicians and
  Surgeons
• jjc7_at_columbia.edu

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Columbia Experience

• Medline Button
• Translated ICD9-CM to MeSH to search Medline
• Hard to build
• Did not satisfy users needs

• Medline Button
• Translated ICD9-CM to MeSH to search Medline
• Hard to build
• Did not satisfy users needs

• Infobuttons
• Web-based
• Easy to build
• Require custom programming
• Used preferentially in some settings

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Columbia Experience

• Medline Button
• Translated ICD9-CM to MeSH to search Medline
• Hard to build
• Did not satisfy users needs
• Infobuttons
• Web-based
• Easy to build
• Used preferentially in some settings
• Require custom programming

• Infobuttons
• Web-based
• Easy to build
• Used preferentially in some settings
• Require custom programming

• Infobutton Manager
• Standard set of context variables
• Matches context to frequently-asked questions
• Each question has corresponding solution
• Table-driven

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lta hrefflux.cpmc.columbia.edu/webcisdev13/
wc_infomanage.cgi?9info_instituteNYPH
info_age5 info_sexFinfo_usertypeMD
info_med28743info_contextInPatientDrugsgt ltimg
info.gif\"gt lt/agt
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Columbia Experience to Date

• Questions determined by empiric observation
• Resources found to answer questions
• Infobutton Manager links added to WebCIS

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Columbia Experience Next Steps

• Currently carrying out heuristic evaluation
• Usability study is next
• Roll-out to 4000 WebCIS users planned
• Follow-up observational study to determine
• Usefulness
• Impact

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Institution-Independent Solutions

• Contexts are common across institutions
• Information needs may be common
• Infobutton Manager is institution-independent
• Institute is a parameter
• Questions can be customized by institution
• Resources can differ by institution
• Questions and resources can be shared
• Terminology is the limiting factor
• www.dmi.columbia.edu/homepages/ciminoj/Infobutto
  ns.html