Methods Inf Med 2018; 57(04): 159-167
DOI: 10.3414/ME17-01-0110
Original Articles
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Development of an Open Metadata Schema for Clinical Pathway (openCP) in China

Wei Xu
1   Department of Medical Informatics, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
,
Yanxin Zhu
1   Department of Medical Informatics, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
,
Yibing Geng
2   Shanghai Banpo Network Technologies LTD., Shanghai, China
› Author Affiliations
Funding This work was supported by the National Social Science Foundation of China [13BTQ012, 2013], and the National Natural Science Foundation of China [30972549, 2010].
Further Information

Publication History

received: 09 October 2017

accepted: 12 March 2018

Publication Date:
24 September 2018 (online)

Summary

Background: By the end of the first quarter of 2017, 1212 standard Clinical Pathways (CPs) had been developed and implemented in China since 2009, however, Chinese standard CPs are still paper-based CPs.

Objectives: To optimize the data structure and content of Chinese standard CPs based on Chinese health standards by two-level modeling approach and archetype method, and develop an Open Metadata Schema for Clinical Pathway (openCP) in China.

Methods: We chose 43 diseases covering 7 departments of internal medicine as samples and source materials including Respiratory, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Cardiology, Nephrology, Endocrinology, and Hematology, and we followed 4 steps to develop openCP: identify reference model of openCP; develop archetype models; standardize archetype terms and metadata; and evaluate its functionality.

Results: We have built hierarchical reference model and archetypes of openCP, created and standardized archetype terms and metadata, and evaluate the functionality of openCP. The qualitative comments from 5 doctors were inspiring.

Discussion and Conclusions: Medical staff may easily build localized CPs in openCP which can be integrated into EHR systems and shared among different hospitals and clinics.