Guideline-based decision support

A method of providing decision support, comprising:

• modeling, by a processor, a clinical guideline as a decision tree, the decision tree comprising a root node, condition nodes and recommendation nodes, wherein the root node comprises a starting point for determining a path through the decision tree via at least one of the condition nodes to at least one of the recommendation nodes, the condition nodes each comprise a condition determining whether the path is allowed to intersect the condition node, and the recommendation nodes each comprise a treatment recommendation adhering to the clinical guideline;
• evaluating, by the processor, the conditions of the condition nodes in view of a set of patient parameters;
• determining, by the processor, the path through the decision tree to the at least one recommendation node, the at least one recommendation node comprising a determined recommendation, wherein the condition nodes are activated or deactivated based on whether the condition is met in view of the patient parameters, wherein the path is allowed to intersect with the activated condition nodes;
• generating, by the processor, an explanation of a reason for the determined recommendation based on at least one of the condition nodes on the path that leads to the recommendation node;
• receiving, by the processor via a user interface, a proposed treatment action from a user;
• determining, by the processor, a recommendation node whose recommendation corresponds to the proposed treatment action, the latter recommendation node being referred to hereinafter as the proposed action node;
• determining, by the processor, a path through the decision tree that leads to the proposed action node, the latter path being referred to hereinafter as the proposed path;
• comparing, by the processor, the path determined by the processor and the proposed path to detect a divergence between the path determined by the processor and the proposed path;
• and
• indicating, by the processor via the user interface, to the user a violated condition of a condition node at the divergence.