Linking electronic medical records to large-scale simulation models: can we put rapid learning on turbo?

One method for rapid learning is to use data from electronic medical records (EMRs) to help build and validate large-scale, physiology-based simulation models. These models can than be used to help answer questions that cannot be addressed directly from the EMR data. Their potential uses include analyses of physiological pathways; simulation and design of clinical trials; and analyses of clinical management tools such as guidelines, performance measures, priority setting, and cost-effectiveness. Linking the models to EMR data also facilitates tailoring analyses to specific populations. The models' power and accuracy can be improved by linkage to comprehensive, person-specific, longitudinal data from EMRs.