Adaptive hybrid reasoning decision support system

1. A method for indexing a plurality of nodes using a computer system, the computer system including data storage and a processor coupled to the data storage, the method comprising:

storing the plurality of nodes in the data storage, each of the plurality of nodes having a hit count, a link count and an outcome, the hit count of each node indicating a number of times a case attribute associated with the node is presented to a user, the link count of each node indicating a number of times the case attribute associated with the node is affirmed as useful, the outcome of each node indicating a desirability of the outcome;

creating a qualitative index ordering the plurality of nodes according to the hit count, the link count and the outcome of each node; and

storing the qualitative index in the data storage, wherein storing the plurality of nodes includes storing a plurality of cases, and wherein storing the plurality of cases includes storing a hit count of each case indicating a number of times a rule associated with the case was presented to the user.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein storing the plurality of nodes includes storing a tree of nodes.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein creating the qualitative index includes ordering the plurality of nodes in descending order.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

creating a semantic index ordering the plurality of nodes according to a diagnosis-related group associated with each node;

creating a quantitative index ordering the plurality of nodes according to a plurality of patient data values associated with each node;

creating an ontological index ordering the plurality of nodes according to at least one clinical term taxonomy;

creating a temporal index ordering the plurality of nodes according to a time period associated with each node;

creating a temporal-ontological index ordering the plurality of nodes according to a time period associated with each node and the at least one clinical term taxonomy; and

storing the semantic index in the data storage.

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising:

receiving a first case from the user, the first case including a patient history, a patient characteristic, a diagnosis and an intervention;

determining, using the diagnosis, a semantic similarity between the first case and a plurality of cases associated with at least one of the plurality of nodes;

determining, using the patient characteristic and the intervention, a quantitative similarity between the first case and the plurality of cases; and

determining, using the patient history, a temporal similarity between the first case and the plurality of cases.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:

determining a similarity vote based at least in part on the semantic similarity, the quantitative similarity and the temporal similarity, the similarity vote indicating a second case of the plurality of cases; and

presenting the second case to the user.

7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:

adjusting the hit count of any of the plurality of nodes when a case attribute associated with a node is presented to the user; and

adjusting the link count of any of the plurality of nodes when the case attribute associated with the node is affirmed as useful.

8. A system for indexing a plurality of nodes comprising:

a storage medium; and

a processor coupled to the storage medium and configured to:

store the plurality of nodes on the storage medium, each of the plurality of nodes having a hit count, a link count and an outcome, the hit count of each node indicating a number of times a case attribute associated with the node is presented to a user, the link count of each node indicating a number of times the case attribute associated with the node is affirmed as useful, the outcome of each node indicating a desirability of the outcome;

create a qualitative index ordering the plurality of nodes according to the hit count, the link count and the outcome of each node; and

store the qualitative index in the data storage, wherein the processor configured to store the plurality of nodes is further configured to store a plurality of cases, and wherein the processor configured to store the plurality of cases is further configured to store a hit count of each case indicating a number of times a rule associated with the case was presented to the user.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the processor configured to store the plurality of nodes is further configured to store a tree of nodes.

10. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the processor configured to create the qualitative index is further configured to order the plurality of nodes in descending order.

11. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

create a semantic index ordering the plurality of nodes according to a diagnosis-related group associated with each node;

create a quantitative index ordering the plurality of nodes according to a plurality of patient data values associated with each node;

create an ontological index ordering the plurality of nodes according to at least one clinical term taxonomy;

create a temporal index ordering the plurality of nodes according to a time period associated with each node;

create a temporal-ontological index ordering the plurality of nodes according to a time period associated with each node and the at least one clinical term taxonomy; and

store the semantic index in the data storage.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a first case from the user, the first case including a patient history, a patient characteristic, a diagnosis and an intervention;

determine, using the diagnosis, a semantic similarity between the first case and a plurality of cases associated with at least one of the plurality of nodes;

determine, using the patient characteristic and the intervention, a quantitative similarity between the first case and the plurality of cases; and

determine, using the patient history, a temporal similarity between the first case and the plurality of cases.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a similarity vote based at least in part on the semantic similarity, the quantitative similarity and the temporal similarity, the similarity vote indicating a second case of the plurality of cases; and

present the second case to the user.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

adjust the hit count of any of the plurality of nodes when a case attribute associated with a node is presented to the user; and

adjust the link count of any of the plurality of nodes when the case attribute associated with the node is affirmed as useful.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing sequences of instruction for indexing a plurality of nodes, the sequences of instruction including instructions that instruct at least one processor to:

store the plurality of nodes in the data storage, each of the plurality of nodes having a hit count, a link count and an outcome, the hit count of each node indicating a number of times a case attribute associated with the node is presented to a user, the link count of each node indicating a number of times the case attribute associated with the node is affirmed as useful, the outcome of each node indicating a desirability of the outcome;

create a qualitative index ordering the plurality of nodes according to the hit count, the link count and the outcome of each node; and

store the qualitative index in the data storage, wherein the instructions to store the plurality of nodes include instructions to store a plurality of cases, and wherein the instructions to store the plurality of cases include instructions to store a hit count of each case indicating a number of times a rule associated with the case was presented to the user.