Patent ID: 7653873

Claim:
A method implemented on a computer-readable storage medium for providing a user interface supporting user creation of a work flow, the work flow comprising one or more tasks performed in response to user command, wherein an individual tasks performed using a corresponding executable procedure, the method comprising the steps of: initiating display of a plurality of task representative image elements; selecting, in response to a user command, a user selectable displayed image element being used in implementing a particular task of the work flow; incorporating the particular task into data representing the work flow, the particular task selected from a set of tasks derived by decomposing functions of a clinical information system into discrete clinical tasks including the particular task and comprising at least two of, (a) processing an order associated with medical treatment of a patient, (b) processing results of a test performed for a patient, (c) documenting clinical findings associated with a patient and (d) scheduling a service to be performed for a patient; enabling an executable application used in implementing the work flow to initiate execution of a first executable procedure using an identifier preconfigured to be associated with the first executable procedure, the incorporation of the particular task into the data representing the work flow being performed in response to user selection of the displayed image element associated with the particular task and the particular task is performed using the first executable procedure, wherein said discrete clinical tasks are associated with corresponding executable procedures used in performing said discrete clinical tasks and individual executable procedures are associated with predetermined corresponding sets of parameters used in invoking the executable procedures and wherein the first executable procedure processes at least one of (i) an input parameter relevant to the particular task and (ii) an output parameter to be generated by the work flow executable procedure upon performance of the particular task.