Innovative information visualization of electronic health record data: a systematic review

Abstract

Objective This study investigates the use of visualization techniques reported between 1996 and 2013 and evaluates innovative approaches to information visualization of electronic health record (EHR) data for knowledge discovery.Methods An electronic literature search was conducted May–July 2013 using MEDLINE and Web of Knowledge, supplemented by citation searching, gray literature searching, and reference list reviews. General search terms were used to assure a comprehensive document search.Results Beginning with 891 articles, the number of articles was reduced by eliminating 191 duplicates. A matrix was developed for categorizing all abstracts and to assist with determining those to be excluded for review. Eighteen articles were included in the final analysis.Discussion Several visualization techniques have been extensively researched. The most mature system is LifeLines and its applications as LifeLines2, EventFlow, and LifeFlow. Initially, research focused on records from a single patient and visualization of the complex data related to one patient. Since 2010, the techniques under investigation are for use with large numbers of patient records and events. Most are linear and allow interaction through scaling and zooming to resize. Color, density, and filter techniques are commonly used for visualization.Conclusions With the burgeoning increase in the amount of electronic healthcare data, the potential for knowledge discovery is significant if data are managed in innovative and effective ways. We identify challenges discovered by previous EHR visualization research, which will help researchers who seek to design and improve visualization techniques.

Visualisation of Integrated Patient-Centric Data as Pathways: Enhancing Electronic Medical Records in Clinical Practice

“…Roque et al [18] also give comparisons of the key information visualisation systems for clinical data. Similarly, West et al [19] provide a systematic survey of works between 1996 and 2013. Their article is part of a special issue dedicated to visual analytics to support the analysis of complex clinical data [20].…”

“…Some of the main problems relating to the improvement of health and healthcare with interactive visualisation methods are reviewed by Shneiderman et al [6], Aigner et al [58], Caban and Gotz [20], and West et al [19]. Some of these challenges arise because healthcare must become more "predictive, preemptive, personalised and participative" [6].…”

Integrated visualisation of wearable sensor data and risk models for individualised health monitoring and risk assessment to promote patient empowerment

“…In each category, the work is further divided by visual analytics of time series data or status at a certain time point. West et al also presents a systematic review of visual analytics approaches that have been proposed to illustrate EHR data (West et al 2015).…”

Visual Analytics for Health Monitoring and Risk Management in CARRE

“…In each category, the work is further divided by visual analytics of time series data or status at a certain time point. [23] also presents a systematic review of innovative visual analytics approaches that have been proposed to illustrate EHR data.…”