FLORENCE: synthesis of case-based and model-based reasoning in a nursing care planning system.

In this article, the data structures and reasoning methodologies of FLORENCE, an expert system that advises on the identification of nursing diagnoses in a new client, are described. FLORENCE is primarily a case-based reasoning system, but has an ancillary model-based reasoning system to advise on complex problems. The use of multiple reasoning methods allows for better simulation of the reasoning process of the expert clinician.