Interoperability Of Information Systems Research Articles

Signposts Along the NIH Roadmap for Reengineering Clinical Research<subtitle>Lessons From the Clinical Research Networks Initiative</subtitle>

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Roadmap for Medical Research aims to increase the efficiency and speed of clinical research. We report results and lessons learned from a key component of the Roadmap, the Clinical Research Networks initiative. Twelve diverse, experienced, large, clinical research networks were funded for 3 years to develop strategies for integrating, expanding, and increasing the interoperability of clinical research networks in support of the Roadmap goals. Network leaders met periodically in person and by teleconference to describe common challenges encountered and solutions used for expansion and increased interoperability. These networks developed innovative solutions to technical challenges, including strategies for interoperability of information systems and management of complex information system technologies (eg, "brokering" to address data system incompatibility, data transfer, and security requirements), and solutions to human factor challenges at the individual, group, intraorganizational, and interorganizational levels (eg, applying collaborative organizing and decision-making processes based on key principles). These solutions can provide guidance to existing and future clinical research networks, particularly those forming as part of the NIH Clinical Translation Science Award program. Remaining technical and human factor challenges, however, as well as the largely unmet need for consistent funding for network infrastructure and maintenance, stand in the way of fulfilling the vision of a robust future role for clinical research networks.

Análisis de terminologías de salud para su utilización como ontologías computacionales en los sistemas de información clínicos

ObjectivesOntologies are a resource that allow the concept of meaning to be represented informatically, thus avoiding the limitations imposed by standardized terms. The objective of this study was to establish the extent to which terminologies could be used for the design of ontologies, which could be serve as an aid to resolve problems such as semantic interoperability and knowledge reusability in healthcare information systems. MethodsTo determine the extent to which terminologies could be used as ontologies, six of the most important terminologies in clinical, epidemiologic, documentation and administrative-economic contexts were analyzed. The following characteristics were verified: conceptual coverage, hierarchical structure, conceptual granularity of the categories, conceptual relations, and the language used for conceptual representation. ResultsMeSH, DeCS and UMLS ontologies were considered lightweight. The main differences among these ontologies concern conceptual specification, the types of relation and the restrictions among the associated concepts. SNOMED and GALEN ontologies have declaratory formalism, based on logical descriptions. These ontologies include explicit qualities and show greater restrictions among associated concepts and rule combinations and were consequently considered as heavyweight. ConclusionsAnalysis of the declared representation of the terminologies shows the extent to which they could be reused as ontologies. Their degree of usability depends on whether the aim is for healthcare information systems to solve problems of semantic interoperability (lightweight ontologies) or to reuse the systems’ knowledge as an aid to decision making (heavyweight ontologies) and for non-structured information retrieval, extraction, and classification.

개념계층구조에 기반한 온톨로지 분석 및 오류검출도구

온톨로지는 시멘틱 웹의 핵심요소로서, 도메인의 공유지식을 개념화하여 정형적으로 표현한 것이다. 잘 정의된 온톨로지를 사용함으로써 상호운용성을 기반으로 하는 시멘틱 웹 분야의 정보시스템 품질을 향상시킬 수 있다. 그러나, 실제로는 오류를 포함하지 않는 고품질의 온톨로지를 개발하는 것은 수월하지 않다. 따라서, 온톨로지 설계기법과 더불어서, 온톨로지에 내재된 에러를 검출하는 기능을 지원하는 다양한 분석도구/기법들은 온톨로지 개발자들에게 많은 도움이 될 수 있다. 본 논문에서는, 형식개념분석기법을 기반으로 온톨로지의 핵심요소들을 분석하는 기법을 제안하고, 온톨로지에 내재되어 있는 오류를 검출하기 위한 지원도구를 개발하였다. 본 연구결과는, 기존의 온톨로지를 수정보완할 경우의 지침으로서 뿐만아니라, 고품질의 온톨로지를 개발할 수 있는 유용한 도구로서 이용될 수 있다. An ontology as the core element of Semantic Web is a formal specification of a conceptualization of shared domain knowledge. The use of well-defined ontologies can increase the quality of interoperable information systems in the area of Semantic Web. However, in practice, it is not easy to develop high-quality ontologies which have no errors. Therefore, with methodologies for ontology design, various methods or tools for ontology analysis supporting for error-detection might be very helpful for ontology developers. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for analyzing the core constructs of ontology based on the Formal Concept Analysis and develop a tool that supports error-checking ontologies. Our approach can serve not only as a guidance to modify the existing ontologies, but also as a valuable tool in developing high-quality ontologies.

SIISAM: A Model for Secure Inhomogeneous Information Systems

SIISAM is a multilayered, Web-service-based architecture model designed to guide construction of a secure, interoperable, and extensible information system that allows smooth interoperation of legacy applications. A pilot e-government system in China built using the model has achieved its targets in both functionality and performance.

Ensuring interoperability of command and control information systems – new ways to test conformance to the MIP solution

In the Multilateral Interoperability Programme (MIP), 25 nations and NATO develop consensus-based, system-independent specifications to achieve semantic interoperability among distributed and heterogeneous command and control information systems (C2ISs). Implementing a distributed system is a complex and error-prone task. Therefore, extensive and efficient testing of the nationalMIP implementations is critical to ensure interoperability. For MIP baseline 3, Research Institute for Communication, Information Processing, and Ergonomics (FKIE) develops a test system that checks the conformance of national C2ISs with regard to the MIP specifications. It aims at reducing the testing effort and in- creasing the quality of MIP-compliant C2IS by automating the testing process. For that purpose, formal and executable test cases are specified. The test system is used as the MIP Test Reference System (MTRS) for the official MIP system level tests. In this paper, we motivate the development of the MTRS and describe the underlying testing approach. The client-server architecture and the test language are described in detail. Finally, the status quo and an outlook on future enhancements are given.

Importance of achieving semantic interoperability for national health information systems

This reflective paper examines relationships between the Government policy-makers in health; health care providers in general; and the adoption of health care information, knowledge, and communication technologies. These technologies include the adoption of a national health language and computer science standards in health. These reflections are based on the author's observations and international involvement in the development of standards and in the development of national Government Health Information Comunication Technology implementation strategies over many years. A number of critical concepts appear to be poorly understood by key decision-makers. Alternatively, the political agendas and the need to look after a variety of vested interests continue to dominate. It is concluded that we must establish and actively promote a sound business case for the adoption of a national health computer science strategy that is based on the best available scientific evidence that supports a sustainable health system.

Emergency Response Information System Interoperability: Development of Chemical Incident Response Data Model

Emergency response requires an efficient information supply chain for the smooth operations of intra- and inter-organizational emergency management processes. However, the breakdown of this information supply chain due to the lack of consistent data standards presents a significant problem. In this paper, we adopt a theory- driven novel approach to develop an XML-based data model that prescribes a comprehensive set of data standards (semantics and internal structures) for emergency management to better address the challenges of information interoperability. Actual documents currently being used in mitigating chemical emergencies from a large number of incidents are used in the analysis stage. The data model development is guided by Activity Theory and is validated through a RFC-like process used in standards development. This paper applies the standards to the real case of a chemical incident scenario. Further, it complies with the national leading initiatives in emergency standards (National Information Exchange Model)

A knowledge-based approach to manage information systems interoperability

Interoperability is a key property of enterprise applications, which is hard to achieve due to the large number of interoperating components and semantic heterogeneity. The inherent complexity of interoperability problems implies that there exists no silver bullet to solve them. Rather, the knowledge about how to solve wicked interoperability problems is hidden in the application cases that expose those problems. The paper addresses the question of how to organise and use method knowledge to resolve interoperability problems. We propose the structure of a knowledge-based system that can deliver situation-specific solutions, called method chunks. Situational Method Engineering promotes modularisation and formalisation of method knowledge in the form of reusable method chunks, which can be combined to compose a situation-specific method. The method chunks are stored in a method chunk repository. In order to cater for management and retrieval, we introduce an Interoperability Classification Framework, which is used to classify and tag method chunks and to assess the project situation in which they are to be used. The classification framework incorporates technical as well as business and organisational aspects of interoperability. This is an important feature as interoperability problems typically are multifaceted spanning multiple aspects. We have applied the approach to analyse an industry case from the insurance sector to identify and classify a set of method chunks.

Model Transformation of Collaborative Business Process into Mediation Information System

Partner information systems (IS) must interact to efficiently support collaboration in an enterprise network. One way to reach this goal is to promote IS interoperability. Assuming a service oriented approach of the software architecture of each individual IS, the use of a mediation IS is described to bind the services of individual IS systems. The knowledge captured in collaborative process models expressed in Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN) is considered as a basis of collaboration requirements. Therefore, it will be the prime material used in order to build an UML model of the mediation system. Transformation language mechanisms that support the resolution phase of this particular problem are explained.

Reflections on the Role of Open Source in Health Information System Interoperability

This paper reflects on the role of open source in health information system interoperability. Open source is a driving force in computer science research and the development of information systems. It facilitates the sharing of information and ideas, enables evolutionary development and open collaborative testing of code, and broadens the adoption of interoperability standards. In health care, information systems have been developed largely ad hoc following proprietary specifications and customized design. However, the wide deployment of integrated services such as Electronic Health Records (EHRs) over regional health information networks (RHINs) relies on interoperability of the underlying information systems and medical devices. This reflection is built on the experiences of the PICNIC project that developed shared software infrastructure components in open source for RHINs and the OpenECG network that offers open source components to lower the implementation cost of interoperability standards such as SCP-ECG, in electrocardiography. Open source components implementing standards and a community providing feedback from real-world use are key enablers of health care information system interoperability. Investing in open source is investing in interoperability and a vital aspect of a long term strategy towards comprehensive health services and clinical research.

E-Government Integration and Interoperability: Framing the Research Agenda

Among the defining purposes of e-Government, highly agile, citizen-centric, accountable, transparent, effective, and efficient government operations and services have high rank. For reaching these goals, the integration of government information resources and processes, and ultimately, the interoperation of independent e-Government information systems appears essential. Yet, most integration and interoperation efforts meet serious challenges and constraints. This article contributes to the development of a research framework on integration and system interoperation in e-Government. We propose future research projects to study the foci and purposes, limitations and constraints, as well as processes and outcomes of integration and interoperation in electronic Government. For so doing, we suggest needs-and-wants theory as one promising theoretical lens (among others) for guiding that effort.

LISI 기반의 무기체계 상호운용성 평가모델에 관한 연구

현대 미래전에서 네트워크를 기반으로 한 합동 연합작전의 수요가 증가함에 따라 다양한 무기체계 간에 상호운용이 요구되고 있다. 이러한 이유로 미 국방성에서는 정보체계 기획단계에서부터 개발단계까지의 시스템 개발에 구현된 표준기술에 대한 상호운용성 수준을 평가하기 위해서 LISI(Level of Information System Interoperability)를 적용하고 있다. 우리나라에서도 국방정보체계 간의 상호운용성 수준을 평가하기 위하여 LISI 기반의 상호운용성 시험평가 도구인 SITES(Systems Interoperability Test & Evaluation System)을 개발하여 적용하고 있다. 그러나, 국방정보체계 뿐만 아니라 무기체계를 포함하는 상호운용성 수준을 평가하기 위해서는 기존의 정보체계 평가모델을 무기체계 영역으로 확장이 필요하다. 본 논문에서는 국방정보체계와 무기체계에 적용 가능한 상호운용성 평가모델을 제시하고, 제시된 모델을 E-SITES(Extended SITES)에 구현하고 12개 무기체계 대상으로 실험하고 결과를 분석하였다. There are many demands for interoperability between weapon systems as the operational needs for joint and coalition based on network in modern and future warfare have been increasingly needed. In DoD, LISI has been applied throughout information system life cycle from the planning phase to the development phase to assess the level of interoperability. We also developed SITES which is a tool to assess the level of interoperability in information systems. But we should extend the assessment model from the previous information systems to the weapon systems to assess the level of interoperability including weapon systems as well as information systems. In this paper, we proposed the assessment model of interoperability, implemented the E-SITE based on the proposed model, applied 12 weapon systems and analyzed the experimental result.

Ontologias e tecnologias da informação e comunicação: sistemas especialistas, Web semântica e gestão integrada de compras governamentais eletrônicas

The consolidation of information and communication technology as a technical and economic paradigm suggests transformations in how science is practised. In fact, cutting edge research requires expressive processing and network capacities for handling geographically disperse data from different disciplines, marking the birth of “escience”, as in bioinformatics. In this context, this article introduces expert systems and the Semantic Web, whose construction depends on technologies for knowledge representation, such as ontologies. By spelling out a common set of concepts, these can make possible the integration of diverse and heterogeneous sets of data, facilitating the interoperability of information systems. This integration of data is a critical stage of the development of almost all computer systems, whether they are used in research activities, in new ways of organizing collaborative work, in e-science or in government or commercial activities. The article concludes by arguing that the construction of ontologies is a technological alternative for the interoperability of information systems, which may favor a new way of organizing collaborative work for the integrated management of electronic government purchases, particularly in the health sector.

Improving the Public Health Information Network through Semantic Modeling

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created the Public Health Information Network to advance fully capable, interoperable information systems in public health organizations. PHIN prioritizes public health information systems' functional requirements, capabilities, performance measures, and operational characteristics while letting the architects of those systems choose enabling approaches, methods, and concepts to meet the requirements. PHIN also provides a certification process for public health administrators to evaluate their information infrastructure's quality. The certification process is important because affected organizations often depend on certification for continued funding.

An evaluation and selection framework for interoperability standards

There is a wide range of standards available for the integration and interoperability of applications and information systems, both on domain-specific and domain-neutral levels. The evaluation and selection of interoperability standards are necessary in the application development and integration projects, when there is a need to assess the usefulness of existing models or to find open solutions. In addition, standards have to be evaluated when recommendations are made for a given domain or when their quality is examined. The evaluation of the scope and other aspects of interoperability standards is usually performed against project-specific requirements, but generic frameworks can be used for supporting the evaluation. In this article, we present a conceptual framework which has been developed for the systematic evaluation of interoperability standards. We also present an overview of a process for the evaluation of interoperability standards. We illustrate the use of these models with practical experience and examples.

A roadmap towards healthcare information systems interoperability in Greece

The advantages of the introduction of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the complex healthcare sector are already well known and well stated in the past. It is common knowledge that in order to install any type of information system in healthcare, six main groups of issues have to be dealt with: organizational and cultural matters related to healthcare, technological gap between healthcare professionals and information science experts, legal requirements on the confidentiality of personal data, of patient related data and on data privacy, industrial and market position of healthcare informatics and interoperability complexity, lack of vision and leadership of the health care managers and health authorities and user acceptability and usability of the proposed information systems. In order to meet these issues stated above, a special focus group (Z3) performed an assessment of the situation of healthcare informatics in Greece and of the main key points that would lead to success. In that sense it is now common knowledge that Greece is lagging information and communication technology progress in healthcare because almost none of the above mentioned issues were dealt with. This assessment is the result of the interaction of more than 150 decision makers, medical informaticians, healthcare practitioners and other individual involved in healthcare. As a conclusion, this focus group resulted in 4 major propositions that will lead to healthcare informatics introduction with better success chances: focus on terminologies and standards, focus on interoperability and information systems sustainability, focus on clear goals and system metrics that can create a healthcare performance management cockpit, and focus on people and what they have to say, by creating a e-health forum. These conclusions were taken into consideration by the Greek government and are incorporated the IASYS project, the national healthcare informatics framework for the next ten years.

Interopérabilité et système d'information. Aide à la conception de système d'information interorganisationnel à partir de processus collaboratifs

Cet article s'articule autour de deux parties. La premiere considere que l'interoperabilite des entreprises passe par celle de leurs systemes d'information et projette cette notion d'interoperabilite sur le concept meme de systeme d'information. Cette operation permet de positionner ce type de partenariat non pas comme une problematique d'interaction directe entre SI, mais plutot au niveau de la mise en place d'un systeme d'information intermediaire (support des composants de cette interoperabilite : conversion de donnees, gestion des applications et pilotage des processus). La seconde partie s'interesse a la conception d'un tel systeme d'information collaboratif et decompose la demarche proposee selon ses projections logique, puis physique. Les pratiques proposees s'apparentent a l'approche MDA et permettent d'anticiper sur l'outillage d'un atelier de conception. ABSTRACT. This article is based on two main parts. The first one assumes that enterprises' interoperability needs partners' information systems interoperability. It also aims at defining interoperability in order to project that definition on IS concept (to identify concrete requirements for interoperability of IS). From these conclusions, it is possible to propose a collaborative information system centralizing interoperability constraints (such as data conversion, applications management or process orchestration). The second part of the article deals with the design of such a system and presents the proposed approach, based on logical and physical architectures. These exposed practices are compliant with MDA concept and the translation rules concerned prefigure a potential tool for design support.

Standardized Exchange of Clinical Documents

The exchange of medical data from research and clinical routine across institutional borders is essential to establish an integrated healthcare platform. In this project we want to realize the standardized exchange of medical data between different healthcare institutions to implement an integrated and interoperable information system supporting clinical treatment and research of glaucoma. The central point of our concept is a standardized communication model based on the Clinical Document Architecture (CDA). Further, a communication concept between different health care institutions applying the developed document model has been defined. With our project we have been able to prove that standardized communication between an Electronic Medical Record (EMR), an Electronic Health Record (EHR) and the Erlanger Glaucoma Register (EGR) based on the established conceptual models, which rely on CDA rel.1 level 1 and SCIPHOX, could be implemented. The HL7-tool-based deduction of a suitable CDA rel.2 compliant schema showed significant differences when compared with the manually created schema. Finally fundamental requirements, which have to be implemented for an integrated health care platform, have been identified. An interoperable information system can enhance both clinical treatment and research projects. By automatically transferring screening findings from a glaucoma research project to the electronic medical record of our ophthalmology clinic, clinicians could benefit from the availability of a longitudinal patient record. The CDA as a standard for exchanging clinical documents has demonstrated its potential to enhance interoperability within a future shared care paradigm.

Semantic Interoperability

To meet the challenge for high quality and efficient care, highly specialized and distributed healthcare establishments have to communicate and co-operate in a semantically interoperable way. Information and communication technology must be open, flexible, scalable, knowledge-based and service-oriented as well as secure and safe. For enabling semantic interoperability, a unified process for defining and implementing the architecture, i.e. structure and functions of the cooperating systems' components, as well as the approach for knowledge representation, i.e. the used information and its interpretation, algorithms, etc. have to be defined in a harmonized way. Deploying the Generic Component Model, systems and their components, underlying concepts and applied constraints must be formally modeled, strictly separating platform-independent from platform-specific models. As HL7 Version 3 claims to represent the most successful standard for semantic interoperability, HL7 has been analyzed regarding the requirements for model-driven, service-oriented design of semantic interoperable information systems, thereby moving from a communication to an architecture paradigm. The approach is compared with advanced architectural approaches for information systems such as OMG's CORBA 3 or EHR systems such as GEHR/openEHR and CEN EN 13606 Electronic Health Record Communication. HL7 Version 3 is maturing towards an architectural approach for semantic interoperability. Despite current differences, there is a close collaboration between the teams involved guaranteeing a convergence between competing approaches.

National, regional and international interoperability of Croatian healthcare information system

National, regional and international interoperability of Croatian healthcare information system