14. A method for transforming narrative content into structured output that defines where individual information resides within the output, the method comprising the steps of: receiving narrative content; scanning the narrative content using a natural language processing engine to identify one section, one clinical assertion within that section, and one element that annotates at least one of the section and the clinical assertion; extracting information from the narrative content including the section, the clinical assertion, and the element; and describing the element with a label selected from a predetermined list of labels within a clinical model, wherein the predetermined list of labels differs according to a type of information to be described.
14. A method for transforming narrative content into structured output that defines where individual information resides within the output, the method comprising the steps of: receiving narrative content; scanning the narrative content using a natural language processing engine to identify one section, one clinical assertion within that section, and one element that annotates at least one of the section and the clinical assertion; extracting information from the narrative content including the section, the clinical assertion, and the element; and describing the element with a label selected from a predetermined list of labels within a clinical model, wherein the predetermined list of labels differs according to a type of information to be described. 17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising a step of storing or using the information within at least one of an electronic health record, data warehouse, or health information exchange.