Integrating Case-Based Reasoning, Rule-Based Reasoning and Intelligent Information Retrieval for Medical Problem-Solving

This paper proposes a multimodal reasoning framework for the cooperation of case-based reasoning, rule-based reasoning and information retrieval to solve problems. Functionally, it offers via the WWW knowledge-support assistance to clinicians responsible for the long-term followup of stem-cell post-transplant patient care. In this domain, no single knowledge source can address the range of problems met, and the cooperation of different knowledge sources, such as cases, clinical pathways and practice guidelines (expressed as rules and/or documents), provides better coverage of both the variety and complexity of the different problems encountered. In particular, case-based reasoning enhances the system by conferring an ability to learn from experience, and thus improve results over time.