title: Semantic challenges in database Federation: lessons learned.
abstract: In this project an integrated analysis of data from disparate surgery and anaesthesiology departmental information systems was carried out. Due to the lack of shared primary keys, a multi-stage "soft" matching method was implemented. Results of the matching steps are described in detail. Inconsistencies were shown to exist for identifying data, semantic definition of documentation content and documented data itself. Minimum requirements for interdisciplinary documentation in autonomous systems should include shared semantic definitions of documentation content as well as robust and regularly validated interfaces for identifying data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Informatics, University of Erlangen, Germany. thomas.ganslandt@imi.med.uni-erlangen.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ganslandt
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kunzmann
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Diesch
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pálffy
authors.forename: Hans-Ulrich
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Prokosch
mesh_terms: D003628:Database Management Systems; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004282:Documentation; D006801:Humans; D012660:Semantics