The Medical Event Vector*)

Abstract

The Medical Event Vector (MEV) is a vector of nineteen dimensions which serves as the basic storage unit for all medical observations in an automated medical information system. Each MEV dimension stores an attribute of the observation; e.g., date recorded, patient and provider identification, the subject of the observation, the data type, etc. Symptoms, signs, diagnoses, laboratory results, procedures ancl treatments all can be stored as MEVs in identical format. Data can be stored in sufficient detail for clinical applications, ancl can be summarized easily for administrative and research purposes. The use of a single consistent, multidimensional data item for all medical information greatly simplifies database design and facilitates data manipulation, organization, selective retrieval and software development.