Integration of an OWL-DL knowledge base with an EHR prototype and providing customized information.

When clinicians use electronic health record (EHR) systems, their ability to obtain general knowledge is often an important contribution to their ability to make more informed decisions. In this paper we describe a method by which an external, formal representation of clinical and molecular genetic knowledge can be integrated into an EHR such that customized knowledge can be delivered to clinicians in a context-appropriate manner.Web Ontology Language-Description Logic (OWL-DL) is a formal knowledge representation language that is widely used for creating, organizing and managing biomedical knowledge through the use of explicit definitions, consistent structure and a computer-processable format, particularly in biomedical fields. In this paper we describe: 1) integration of an OWL-DL knowledge base with a standards-based EHR prototype, 2) presentation of customized information from the knowledge base via the EHR interface, and 3) lessons learned via the process. The integration was achieved through a combination of manual and automatic methods. Our method has advantages for scaling up to and maintaining knowledge bases of any size, with the goal of assisting clinicians and other EHR users in making better informed health care decisions.

Ontology-based knowledge base model construction-OntoKBCF.

Semantic web technologies are used in the construction of a bio-health knowledge base model, which, when coupled with an Electronic Health Record (EHR), is to be used by clinicians. Specifically, this ontology provides the basis for a domain knowledge resource that attempts to bridge biological and clinical information. The prototype is focused on a Cystic Fibrosis exemplar, and the content of the model includes: Cochrane reviews; a time-oriented description; gene therapy; and the most common cystic fibrosis gene mutations. The facts within the model range from nucleo-base mutation and amino acid change to clinical phenotype. The knowledge is represented by layers from the micro level to the macro level. Here, emphasis is placed upon the details between levels (i.e., the vertical axis) and these are made available to bridge the knowledge from different levels. The description of gender, age, mutation and clinical manifestations are clues for matching points within an EHR system. OWL is the ontology representation language used and the output from Protégé-OWL is a XML-based file format, which facilitates further application and communication.

Use of OWL-based tools to aid message development and maintenance.

The National Health Service National Programme for Information Technology is currently developing messaging standards to make available key information about an individual patient's care across and within different health-care settings. The complexity of this task makes it imperative that adequate tooling support is made available so as to aid consistency of design, implementation, conformance testing, and maintenance. Connecting for Health commissioned a proof of concept study to investigate whether the Object Web Language (OWL) and its associated tools could provide a basis for the message development and implementation environments. This study indicated that OWL is very much suited to such a task and should be seriously considered.

Standards supporting interoperability and EHCR communication--a CEN TC251 perspective.

This paper has been submitted by Tom Marley. Tom was a member of the project team which produced ENV 13606 Part 1: and acted as liaison to the Part 4 project team. Tom is currently writing up the document on General Purpose Information Components.