Some thoughts on the intersection between OpenEHR archetypes and FHIR presented at the HL7 New Zealand FHIR seminar

1. Information Models & FHIR
It’s all about content!
Koray Atalag MD, PhD, FACHI
k.atalag@auckland.ac.nz
Vice Chair HL7 New Zealand
Chair openEHR New Zealand
openEHR Localisation Program Leader
Member HISO

2. Programmes of research in
• Health informatics & technology
• Clinical trials
• Cardiovascular disease
• Addictions
• Nutrition & physical activity
Research services
Teaching
• PG Diploma in Health Informatics
• MSc & PhD

3. (Clinical) Information Models
Myths and Facts
• They are NOT reference information models;
– as in HL7 v3 RIM, openEHR/ISO13606 or FHIR resource ontology!
• They are pure representations of health information
• They may employ a number of formats and methods; inc.
– Mindmaps, pdf, UML, XML/XSD, Archetypes, FHIR resources and even
OO language implementations
• For max semantic interoperability & computability:
 formal reference information model – but can be very generic!
• Latest buzzword: Detailed Clinical Models (DCM)

4. What’s in the name?
Terminology: Labels/codes attached to atomic concepts
(mostly without explicit context)
– Diabetes Mellitus, ear ache, left hip, CT scan etc.
Some have hierarchy (ICD) & relationships (SNOMED)
Boundary Problem  Terminology binding
Information Model: structure and semantics of concrete
clinical concepts w/ context
– Blood pressure measurement, lab test result, discharge
summary, adverse reaction, prescription etc.

5. The Hard Way:
Coronary
arteriosclerosis
Structural
disorder of heart
Heart disease
Cardiac finding
Cardiovascular
finding
Finding by site
Clinical finding
SNOMED CT
Concept
Mediastinal
finding
Finding of region
of thorax
Finding of trunk
structure
Finding of body
region
Viscus structure
finding
Disorder of
mediastinum
Disorder of
thorax
Disorder of trunk
Disorder by
body site
Disease
Disorder of body
system
Disorder of body
cavity
Disorder of
cardiovascular
system
Disorder of
coronary artery
Coronary artery
finding
Arterial finding
Blood vessel
finding
General finding
of soft tissue
Disorder of soft
tissue of thoracic
cavity
Disorder of soft
tissue of body
cavity
Disorder of soft
tissue
Disorder of
artery
Vascular
disorder
Arteriosclerotic
vascular disease
Soft tissue
lesion
Degenerative
disorder

6. Structure with terminology: SNOMED
Inconsistencies due to different post-coordination of concepts
In a vasculitis physical examination: “Vascular exams: Carotid Right/Tender”
247348008 | tenderness (finding) | :
363698007 | finding site | = 69105007 | Carotid artery structure (body structure) | :
24028007 | Right (qualifier value) |
_____________________________________________________________________________
301390006 | tenderness of cardiovascular structure | :
363698007 | finding site | = 69105007 | Carotid artery structure (body structure) |:
272741003 | laterality | = 24028007 | Right (qualifier value) |
_______________________________________________________________________________
309655006 | On examination-artery (finding) | :
69105007 | Carotid artery structure (body structure) | :
24028007 | Right (qualifier) |:
247348008 | tenderness |
_______________________________________________________________________________
401050002 | Carotid artery finding (finding) | :
363698007 | finding site | = 69105007 | Carotid artery structure (body structure) | :
272741003 | laterality | = 24028007 | Right (qualifier value) | :
247348008 | tenderness |

7. Problem/Diagnosis Archetype (Nehta)

8. Archetype terminology binding

9.  Open specs, tools and content for representing
health information & building EHR
– Based on 18+ years of international implementation experience
including Good European Health Record Project
– Origin of ISO/CEN 13606 EHR standard
 Not-for-profit organisation - established in 2001
www.openEHR.org
 “Inside Systems” vs HIE
 Separation of clinical
and technical worlds
• Big international community

10. & Archetypes
• FHIR resources and Archetypes are closely related
– should avoid reinvention at all costs!
• Archetype  FHIR resource conversion is
expected to be seamless
– Archetypes are maximal datasets; as opposed to
– FHIR resources include most commonly used items
(e.g. 80%) with an option to extend as needed (e.g.
20%)
• An opportunity exists for FHIR to leverage
openEHR content, tooling and expertise

11. FHIR: Adverse Reaction Resource

12. ADR Archetype (from CKM tool)

13. Getting
closer…

14. HISO 10040 Interoperability Reference
Architecture
10040.1
R-CDRs
XDS
10040.2
CCR
SNOMED CT
openEHR
10040.3
CDA
Acknowledge Alastair Kenworthy

17. What is a Content Model?
• IT IS A REFERENCE LIBRARY – of validated information models for
health information exchange (and more!)
• Consists of maximal datasets (as opposed to minimal)
– normalised using a standard EHR record organisation (openEHR)
– Expressed as reusable and computable models – Archetypes
• Top level organisation follows CCR
• Only relevant items bound to SNOMED, ICD, LOINC etc.
• Further detail provided by:
– Existing relevant sources (CCDA, Nehta, epSoS, HL7 FHIR etc.)
– Extensions (of above) and new Archetypes (NZ specific)
• Each HIE content (CDA/FHIR/v2) will include one or more models
and formally conform

18. Usage of the Content Model

19. Exploiting Content Model for Secondary Use
Single Content Model
CDA
FHIR
HL7 v2/3
EHR Extract
UML
XSD/XMI
PDF
Mindmap
PAYLOAD
System A
Data Source A
Map
To
Content
Model
System B
Data Source B
Native openEHR Repository
Secondary Use
Map
To
Content
Model
Automated Transforms
No Mapping

20. Questions?
k.atalag@auckland.ac.nz