Facilitating the design of HL7 domain models through a model-driven solution

M A Olivero,M J Escalona,A Martínez-García,F J Domínguez-Mayo,C L Parra-Calderón

doi:10.1186/s12911-020-1093-4

M A Olivero, M J Escalona + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-020-1093-4

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Abstract

Background and goalHealth information systems are increasingly sophisticated and developing them is a challenge for software developers. Software engineers usually make use of UML as a standard model language that allows defining health information system entities and their relations. However, working with health system requires learning HL7 standards, that defines and manages standards related to health information systems. HL7 standards are varied, however this work focusses on v2 and v3 since these are the most used one on the area that this work is being conducted. This works aims to allow modeling HL7 standard by using UML.MethodsSeveral techniques based on the MDE (Model-Driven Engineering) paradigm have been used to cope with it.ResultsA useful reference framework, reducing final users learning curve and allowing modeling maintainable and easy-going health information systems.ConclusionsBy using this approach, a software engineer without any previous knowledge about HL7 would be able to solve the problem of modeling HL7-based health information systems. Reducing the learning curve when working in projects that need HL7 standards.

Highlights

Nowadays, health information systems are increasingly sophisticated [1]
A useful reference framework, reducing final users learning curve and allowing modeling maintainable and easy-going health information systems. By using this approach, a software engineer without any previous knowledge about Health Level 7 (HL7) would be able to solve the problem of modeling HL7-based health information systems
Reducing the learning curve when working in projects that need HL7 standards

Summary

Introduction

Health information systems are increasingly sophisticated [1]. The development of high-quality, maintainable and interoperable products is a challenge for software developers that compete in finding a niche market within the health systems field. The need of working with an electronic health record shared all over the word is a fact today [2] For this purpose, it is essential to use health information standards that allow establishing health information exchange rules [3]. Health information systems are increasingly sophisticated and developing them is a challenge for software developers. Software engineers usually make use of UML as a standard model language that allows defining health information system entities and their relations. HL7 international is an organization that provides standards in the health context These standards can use health data safely, whenever, and wherever needed. This organization uses information models to define standards. Lots of researchers from the scientific community have identified the need of using HL7 in the MDE context to have model support tools or testing tools among others at their disposal [13,14,15,16]

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