Not necessarily - it is the 'stuff' that surrounds information that gives meaning. Reduce too far and information loses its context and is at risk of being meaningless information - a blood pressure of 120/80 is meaningless unless context is supplied? Ape, human, earthworm about to explode! To portray a human in digital form will require massively increased metadata and context to relay what might have taken a 2 second glance from an experienced clinician eg jaundice, death, fractured hip.
There are no simple routes but many doors we have yet to open and courage to enter. David Downunder -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:owner-openehr-technical at openehr.org] On Behalf Of William E Hammond Sent: Sunday, 29 May 2005 10:30 PM To: openehr-technical at openehr.org Cc: openehr-technical at openehr.org; owner-openehr-technical at openehr.org Subject: Re: Issue 1 However, in my opinion, one can have too much data. Information, by definition, is more than data and conveys something understandable and useful that was not known before. Information deals with raising entrophy. Long story short, designers of systems need to undersatnd the difference in data and information - ands, ideally, provide just what is needed when it is needed to address the circumstances of the situation. Ed Hammond "lakewood at copper.net" <lakewood To: openehr-technical at openehr.org Sent by: cc: owner-openehr-technical@ Subject: Re: Issue 1 openehr.org 05/28/2005 10:47 PM Please respond to openehr-technical Hi Dr R LONJON, This response pertains to: "... In short according to Shannon (theory of information), too much information, no precise, mask the good information to take a decision. ..." REFERENCE (Shannon Information): http://www.iscid.org/encyclopedia/Shannon_Information "... concerned with quantifying information (usually in terms of number of bits) ... as they are communicated sequentially from a source to a receiver ... The amount of ...information contained in a string of characters is inversely related to the probability of the occurrence of the string ... Shannon information is solely concerned with the improbability or complexity of a string of characters rather than its patterning or significance ..." REFERENCE (Complexity): http://www.iscid.org/encyclopedia/Complexity "... often used to describe single systems made of multiple interacting parts. However, ... can be used for a large variety of applications ...* *Computational ... Time ... Space ... Kolmogorov (algorithmic) ... Connectivity ... Descriptive/Interpretative ... Functional ..." Decision Theory (e.g., http://www.answers.com/topic/decision-theory) would be more appropriate. Once Healthcare-related information is available to a Practitioner one enters an environment in which the types of decisions made and the content upon which they are based are outside of Communications Theory (see Decision Theory Reference). Rarely is there 'too much' information. A more important issue is Upon which portion of the available information, or all of it, should a decision be based? Regards! -Thomas Clark Dr LONJON Roger wrote: >Hi all, >the exercise of medicine is an art. >This is not an exact science as the physics. >With the biology, the anatomo-pathology, the x'ray explorations and R.M.Imaging, >the physician gets information that are validated. >They are validated because there was physical signal registration that was >digital, pictures in RMI. These pictures, as blades of microscope, can be >reread, in the time by other physicians. >They have a statute of data validated by the physician and therefore publishable >in the file of cares of the sick. >The diagnosis makes by the physician is the result of a reasoning, from one >wholes of information that it to on his patient. One teaches it to students >future physicians. >The diagnosis is sometimes fast, but often it asks for a delay of several days >weeks or years!! or never !! >Hypoth?seses, elaborate by the physician, are only some likely, probable >information. > In France, there is an agreement to say that it is about " personal " Notes >that are not validated.and what are the property of the physician. > They are not therefore publishable and especially no opposable in judicial >proc?s case. > In short according to Shannon (theory of information), too much information, no >precise, mask the good information to take a decision. > > Distressed for my English!! > >Dr R LONJON > France > >- >If you have any questions about using this list, >please send a message to d.lloyd at openehr.org > > > > - If you have any questions about using this list, please send a message to d.lloyd at openehr.org - If you have any questions about using this list, please send a message to d.lloyd at openehr.org - If you have any questions about using this list, please send a message to d.lloyd at openehr.org
