DEPLOYR: a technical framework for deploying custom real-time machine learning models into the electronic medical record

OBJECTIVE: Heatlhcare institutions are establishing frameworks to govern and promote the implementation of accurate, actionable, and reliable machine learning models that integrate with clinical workflow. Such governance frameworks require an accompanying technical framework to deploy models in a resource efficient, safe and high-quality manner. Here we present DEPLOYR, a technical framework for enabling real-time deployment and monitoring of researcher-created models into a widely used electronic medical record system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We discuss core functionality and design decisions, including mechanisms to trigger inference based on actions within electronic medical record software, modules that collect real-time data to make inferences, mechanisms that close-the-loop by displaying inferences back to end-users within their workflow, monitoring modules that track performance of deployed models over time, silent deployment capabilities, and mechanisms to prospectively evaluate a deployed model’s impact. RESULTS: We demonstrate the use of DEPLOYR by silently deploying and prospectively evaluating 12 machine learning models trained using electronic medical record data that predict laboratory diagnostic results, triggered by clinician button-clicks in Stanford Health Care’s electronic medical record. DISCUSSION: Our study highlights the need and feasibility for such silent deployment, because prospectively measured performance varies from retrospective estimates. When possible, we recommend using prospectively estimated performance measures during silent trials to make final go decisions for model deployment. CONCLUSION: Machine learning applications in healthcare are extensively researched, but successful translations to the bedside are rare. By describing DEPLOYR, we aim to inform machine learning deployment best practices and help bridge the model implementation gap.