Medical logic module

A medical logic module (MLM) is an independent unit in a health knowledge base that combines the knowledge required and the definition of the way it should be applied for a single health decision. An event monitor program in an electronic medical record (EMR) uses it, on occurrence of defined conditions. Assistance can be offered, or a hint, prompt or further action triggered.

An example keeps watch for renal failure, being triggered when a Creatinine result is recorded.

A grammar - the Arden syntax has been defined which would make MLMs swappable between disparate platforms, but much of this sort of logic has been written ad hoc into various EMR systems and is neither transferable, nor in the case of closed source software is it readily peer reviewed.

See Arden syntax reference for examples.