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Appl Clin Inform 2019; 10(02): 278-285
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1687862
Special Topic: Visual Analytics in Healthcare
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Composer—Visual Cohort Analysis of Patient Outcomes

Jen Rogers
1   Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
,
Nicholas Spina
2   Department of Orthopedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
,
Ashley Neese
2   Department of Orthopedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
,
Rachel Hess
3   Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
,
Darrel Brodke
2   Department of Orthopedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
,
Alexander Lex
1   Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
› Author Affiliations Funding This project was funded by the University of Utah Orthopedic Research Center and NSF IIS 1751238.
Further Information

Publication History

02 January 2019

11 March 2019

Publication Date:
24 April 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Objective Visual cohort analysis utilizing electronic health record data has become an important tool in clinical assessment of patient outcomes. In this article, we introduce Composer, a visual analysis tool for orthopedic surgeons to compare changes in physical functions of a patient cohort following various spinal procedures. The goal of our project is to help researchers analyze outcomes of procedures and facilitate informed decision-making about treatment options between patient and clinician.

Methods In collaboration with orthopedic surgeons and researchers, we defined domain-specific user requirements to inform the design. We developed the tool in an iterative process with our collaborators to develop and refine functionality. With Composer, analysts can dynamically define a patient cohort using demographic information, clinical parameters, and events in patient medical histories and then analyze patient-reported outcome scores for the cohort over time, as well as compare it to other cohorts. Using Composer's current iteration, we provide a usage scenario for use of the tool in a clinical setting.

Conclusion We have developed a prototype cohort analysis tool to help clinicians assess patient treatment options by analyzing prior cases with similar characteristics. Although Composer was designed using patient data specific to orthopedic research, we believe the tool is generalizable to other healthcare domains. A long-term goal for Composer is to develop the application into a shared decision-making tool that allows translation of comparison and analysis from a clinician-facing interface into visual representations to communicate treatment options to patients.

Keywords

cohort analysis - visualization - support - comparisons

Protection of Human and Animal Subjects

Our work does not involve any studies with human or animals performed by any of the authors.


 

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