Investigation of design and coordination issues in outpatient chemotherapy clinics using an ontology-based conceptual model

Abstract

In this paper, we develop an ontological model to check the consistency in the design process for identifying potential conflicts and improving communication and coordination in outpatient chemotherapy clinics (OCCs). The paper describes how potential inconsistency might be detected through a conceptual model to account for the context of OCCs using the enterprise engineering approach design and engineering methodology for organisations (DEMO) and reengineering or modification of the inconsistencies can be accomplished. The implications of the developed model revealed guidelines for modelling an ontological representation and automatically identifying problems and conflicts in the design process of the corresponding system. The observed hindrance reflects two decision makers with opposing objectives for the same patient. Our improving suggestion is to provide an information link between the treatment planner and the patient appointment scheduling transaction by which the two actors supply each other with information converging to one statement.