Many endocrinologic diagnoses rest on results of functional tests. Such tests yield large and complex data sets, whose normal values depend on gender, age, developmental stage, and the laboratory in which the tests are performed. The ratios of hormonal values are also computed and compared to accepted normal ratios, which may also vary among institutions. In addition to the intrinsic complexity of this analysis task, automated interpretation of these tests is made substantially more difficult because of the heterogeneity of the databases in which these tests are stored. Functional adrenal hormone testing serves as an archetypal illustration of these points. To facilitate the retrieval and analysis of these data from an institution's electronic medical record system (EMRS), we have developed a computer-based decision-support system called ATRAS (Adrenal Test Retrieval and Analysis System).

ATRAS is written in the Java computer language, and will be integrated into the W3-EMRS. The W3-EMRS is an Internet-based multi-institutional architecture, allowing for uniform user access to heterogeneous medical databases. This will enable ATRAS's use in virtually any medical environment, regardless of EMRS.

Log in or create a free account to read this content

Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com

Access through your institution

or

Sign in or create an account
Continue with Google
Continue with ORCiD