GLOSSARY - HEALTHCARE
What is Clinical Decision Support?
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Quick Answer
Clinical Decision Support (CDS) provides healthcare professionals with clinical knowledge and patient-specific information to enhance decision-making. AI-powered CDS analyzes patient data, medical literature, and practice guidelines to deliver evidence-based recommendations at the point of care.
Definition
**Clinical Decision Support** augments clinician expertise with data-driven insights. Modern CDS systems use AI to identify drug interactions, suggest evidence-based treatments, flag potential diagnoses, and ensure adherence to clinical guidelines—all integrated into clinical workflows.
Key Points
- Provides evidence-based recommendations at point of care
- Alerts clinicians to potential drug interactions and contraindications
- Suggests differential diagnoses based on symptoms and test results
- Ensures adherence to clinical practice guidelines
- Reduces medical errors and improves patient outcomes
- Integrates with EHR systems for seamless workflow
When NOT to Use This
- CDS provides decision support, not clinical diagnosis or treatment decisions—those remain with licensed clinicians
- CDS is not a substitute for clinical judgment and expertise
- CDS recommendations must be evaluated in context of individual patient circumstances
- CDS is administrative/workflow support, not direct patient care