EXPERT SYSTEM IN RURAL MEDICAL CARE

This paper looks into how an expert system can be used to solve rural problem as it relates to medical care. An expert system is a computer program that simulates the thought process of a human expert to solve complex decision problems in a specific domain. Rural medical care is a health care system found in the rural areas, whose operations are at its poorest state due to lack of sufficient medical practitioners. This research work looks into the areas of rural medical care that could be aided with the use of an expert system that would automate some of the processes and at the same time supplement the few medical officials available in the rural areas in order to improve on the healthcare system. This research considers the manual processes involved in the registration of patients in the rural medical centers, diagnosis and also the schedule of a follow-up appointment. Analysis of the current system was carefully carried out to determine where modification, changes and improvement should be made in the design of the proposed system. Finally, a computer system was designed; which would be used as prototype for further improvement.