Modelling Clinical Information Using UML Tim Benson Abies Ltd tim.benson@abies.co.uk HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Overview Show how UML class diagrams add value to the HL7 v3 development process Focus is on detailed Requirements specification and data element definitions (Glossary) HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

The Problem HL7 v3 is a foreign language to clinicians HL7 RMIMs are specialised tools for developing healthcare message XML schemas Not suited for capturing requirements Formal class names based on structural attributes Small number of common attribute names based on the RIM Pre-defined Data Types and Vocabulary HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

The Solution Specify message requirements in detail using: Visual data modelling (UML class diagrams) Glossary - detailed definition of every data item in context Then map to HL7 RMIM HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Iterative Development HL7 is concerned with the whole process - not just drafting documents HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Phases HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

HL7 Message Development Framework (MDF) 1999 HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

What is a model? Two sorts of model: Always a simplification To describe the real world Can never be “right” To design and build things Specification Always a simplification HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Models and Diagrams Model is all information in a project Model may include Glossary Model is much more than a collection of diagrams Each diagram is just one view on a Model Most models contain dozens of diagrams HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Real World Models HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Specification Models HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

OMG MOF (meta object facility) M3 meta-metamodel M2 meta-model, meta-metadata (languages) M1 model, meta-data (standards) M0 data (systems) HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Matrix Base standards (M3) UML XML HL7 architecture (M2) Vocabulary RIM DataTypes Specification (M1) Requirement RMIM HMD XML Schema Testing Use (M0) Operation HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

UML Unified Modelling Language Mandated in e-GIF OMG standard UML 1.1 1997 Version 1.4 2000 UML 2.0 2003 MDA Model Driven Architecture XMI (XML Metadata Interchange) HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Modelling Clinical Information using UML - Tim Benson 11 December 2003 UML Diagrams 12 Diagram Types Class diagram Activity diagram Sequence diagram State-chart diagram Use case diagram HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd (c) Abies Ltd

UML Notation Classes and Attributes Association (Composition and Aggregation) Specialisation Multiplicities (optionality) HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Composition HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Aggregation HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Specialisation HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Navigation HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Healthcare Party HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Attributes HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Patients and Healthcare Parties HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Healthcare Document Structure HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Clinical Information Complexes HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Headings and Problem Lists HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Clinical Statements HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Clinical Information Items HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd

Modelling Clinical Information using UML - Tim Benson 11 December 2003 Conclusions Health Information is complex, but not impossibly complex This paper has illustrated a few high level patterns UML and XML provide complementary sets of tools HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd (c) Abies Ltd