title: Implementation of the Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN) in the modelling of anatomic pathology processes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Process orientation is one of the essential elements of quality management systems, including those in use in healthcare. Business processes in hospitals are very complex and variable. BPMN (Business Process Modelling Notation) is a user-oriented language specifically designed for the modelling of business (organizational) processes. Previous experiences of the use of this notation in the processes modelling within the Pathology in Spain or another country are not known. We present our experience in the elaboration of the conceptual models of Pathology processes, as part of a global programmed surgical patient process, using BPMN.
  
  
  METHODS
  With the objective of analyzing the use of BPMN notation in real cases, a multidisciplinary work group was created, including software engineers from the Dep. of Technologies and Information Systems from the University of Castilla-La Mancha and health professionals and administrative staff from the Hospital General de Ciudad Real. The work in collaboration was carried out in six phases: informative meetings, intensive training, process selection, definition of the work method, process describing by hospital experts, and process modelling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The modelling of the processes of Anatomic Pathology is presented using BPMN. The presented subprocesses are those corresponding to the surgical pathology examination of the samples coming from operating theatre, including the planning and realization of frozen studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modelling of Anatomic Pathology subprocesses has allowed the creation of an understandable graphical model, where management and improvements are more easily implemented by health professionals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hospital General de Ciudad Real, Calle Tomelloso s/n, Ciudad Real, Spain. marcial@cim.es
authors.forename: Marcial García
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Rojo
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rolón
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calahorra
authors.forename: Felix Oscar
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Rosario Paloma
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Nieves
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ballester
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Armenteros
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Rafael Martín
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Espartero