| Abstract |
The faithful communication and multiple usability of Electronic Health Records (EHR) crucially depend on the standardization of its syntax, structure and semantics, i.e. on the standardization of the EHR architecture and vocabulary used to communicate data. The last generation of electronic health record architectures is based on a dual-model approach. The most remarkable feature of this approach is the complete separation of information models, such as software models or database schemas, from domain models such as blood pressure measurement, prescription or microbiology result. The information model is represented by a stable and small model that describes the generic and stable properties of health information. The possible numerous and volatile domain concepts, represented as archetypes, are modeled separately by domain specialists. In this talk we present an introduction to the dual model approach for the description of EHR. We also discuss the opportunities it provides, and the current challenges for bridging the different semantic and technological domains involved in the description of EHR. Finally, we will show briefly how this approach has been used for the standardization and communication of legacy health data. |