Semantic integration in healthcare networks.
A seamless support of information flow for increasingly distributed healthcare processes requires to integrate heterogeneous IT systems into a comprehensive distributed information system. Different standards contribute to ease this integration. In a research project focussing on the development of a reference architecture for inter-institutional health information systems, we identified and categorised concurring integration standards by distinguishing between technical and semantic integration on the one hand, and data and functional integration on the other hand. In addition, standards for semantic integration are roughly categorised according to their scope. By placing standards into a corresponding matrix a "semantic gap" is revealed, which cannot be covered by standards as it contains volatile medical concepts. As a conclusion, it is recommended to conceptually consider the necessity of system evolution in systems architectures and also in future integration standards.
Lenz
Richard
R
Philipps-Universität Marburg, Institut für Medizinische Informatik, Marburg, Germany. lenzr@staff.uni-marburg.de
Beyer
Mario
M
Kuhn
Klaus A
KA
D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D063005:Health Information Systems; D007256:Information Systems; D012660:Semantics; D018511:Systems Integration