Abstract
BackgroundInteroperability of health information systems is a challenge due to the heterogeneity of existing systems at both the technological and semantic levels of their data. The lack of existing data about interoperability disrupts intra-unit and inter-unit medical operations as well as creates challenges in conducting studies on existing data. The goal is to exchange data while providing the same meaning for data from different sources.ObjectiveTo find ways to solve this challenge, this research paper proposes an interoperability solution for the tuberculosis treatment and follow-up scenario in Brazil using Semantic Web technology supported by an ontology.MethodsThe entities of the ontology were allocated under the definitions of Basic Formal Ontology. Brazilian tuberculosis applications were tagged with entities from the resulting ontology.ResultsAn interoperability layer was developed to retrieve data with the same meaning and in a structured way enabling semantic and functional interoperability.ConclusionsHealth professionals could use the data gathered from several data sources to enhance the effectiveness of their actions and decisions, as shown in a practical use case to integrate tuberculosis data in the State of São Paulo.
Highlights
BackgroundOne of the key issues regarding health information systems is their lack of interoperability [1]
This study presents an ontology based on the Basic Formal Ontology (BFO) meta-ontology to support TB-related data in Brazil
Research and implementation of an ontology that supports the Brazilian scenario of TB were conducted
Summary
BackgroundOne of the key issues regarding health information systems is their lack of interoperability [1]. In Brazil, there are at least 8 main health information systems for TB, namely SISTB, ILTB, Hygia Web, Notification and Monitoring System for Cases of Tuberculosis in the State of São Paulo (TBWEB), Notification of Injury Information System (SINAN), Laboratory Environment Manager (sistema Gerenciador de Ambiente Laboratorial [GAL]), SITE-TB, and electronic Sistema Único de Saúde (e-SUS) AB. In some of these applications, health professionals have to reintroduce the same information and, when the patient's historic information is needed, manual processing is required. Conclusions: Health professionals could use the data gathered from several data sources to enhance the effectiveness of their actions and decisions, as shown in a practical use case to integrate tuberculosis data in the State of São Paulo
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
