Framework for the design of coupled knowledge/data base medical information systems

A framework for the design of a coupled knowledge/data base (KB/DB) medical information systems is presented. The framework is based on a knowledge model of semantic network of concepts and relations. We present the implication of coupling, but keeping the knowledge base from the database separate on updating, searching, and browsing of both the knowledge base and the database component of the system. A prototype implementation of this framework using an object-oriented paradigm is discussed.