NxOpinion is an unprecedented decision support system based on the statistical relevance of symptoms and evidence-based medicine.  NxOpinion, which will use exception-based methodology, will enable healthcare professionals to reach analytical conclusions in minutes, rather than hours or days of research; a methodology that asks questions beyond textbook diagnoses to promote accurate, individualized assessment. 

NxOpinion offers the best solution available as it borrows key informatics technologies to power its unique probabilistic inference; an engine unmatched in its ability to determine the most likely diagnosis and best treatment option given presenting symptoms, labs, patient facts and health history. When complete, Microsoft has stated that it believes NxOpinion will have the most comprehensive and valuable medical database in the world and Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, referred to NxOpinion as a “very comprehensive tool.”[1]  Through the use of exception-based diagnosis, NxOpinion has the unique ability to interact with the healthcare professional by asking about the presence of unreported symptoms or patient facts, or suggesting certain labs that could further differentiate the diagnosis.  With a medical knowledgebase of over 1,000 disease profiles built by physicians, nurses and other medical specialists using well respected medical textbooks, current journal articles and expert opinion, NxOpinion is dedicated to producing and maintaining the most extensive database of scientifically valid medical knowledge in the world.[2]  To date, compiling medical information relating to specific diseases is based heavily on reviews of medical texts and current journal articles along with expert opinion where published data does not exist.  NxOpinion puts a high priority on finding evidence-based information as well because it creates a model for medical diagnosis and treatment that is reproducible and unambiguous. 

 Expertly designed with one underlying architecture, product features are modularized allowing for maximum customization to meet multiple market demands.  NxOpinion is the most portable, comprehensive resource available for emergency and general healthcare; incorporating common, uncommon, and chronic diseases as well as global medicine and multi-lingual capabilities. 

 Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, has cited NxOpinion as one of the best applications of Microsoft technology to real world problems and in 2004 Ballmer nominated NxOpinion for the Computerworld Honors 21^st Century Award.

Scalability

Scability by Technology Platform

NxOpinion achieves platform portability through the use of the feature-rich and robust Microsoft .Net and Compact .Net Frameworks. Using .Net, it was possible to engineer the technical solution once and easily scale the application across Desktop, Tablet PC, and PocketPC platforms. The technology team determined that the NxOpinion platform needed to be able to run locally, without requiring an Internet connection. In many parts of the world, only Tablet PCs or Pocket PCs devices are practical platforms, therefore the application must be able run locally without requiring access to other Internet based resources. The usage of Windows Forms, a component of .Net, was leveraged to deliver a rich, performant, and robust solution.

Scalability by Region

• Easy to change disease prevalence data for more accurate diagnosis by region
• Easy to modify treatment options in keeping with resource availability by region
• Easy to translate modules
• Easy to add region specific diseases

Scalability by Application

• Software features and diagnosable/treatable conditions can be restricted by the type of user; consumer, physician extender or physician

Scalability by Market

• NxOpinion can be stand alone or integrated with other larger healthcare systems from point of care to case management.

[2] Opinions of Microsoft executives Peter Neupert, Corporate VP of Global Health Strategy; Dr. Bill Crounse, Global Healthcare Industry Manager; Dr. David Heckerman, Microsoft Research.