Modelling Clinical Information
Using UML
Tim Benson
Abies Ltd
tim.benson@abies.co.uk
HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd
Overview
Show how UML class diagrams add value
to the HL7 v3 development process
 Focus is on detailed Requirements
specification and data element definitions
(Glossary)

HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd
The Problem



HL7 v3 is a foreign language to clinicians
HL7 RMIMs are specialised tools for developing
healthcare message XML schemas
Not suited for capturing requirements



Formal class names based on structural attributes
Small number of common attribute names based on
the RIM
Pre-defined Data Types and Vocabulary
HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd
The Solution

Specify message requirements in detail
using:
Visual data modelling (UML class diagrams)
 Glossary - detailed definition of every data
item in context


Then map to HL7 RMIM
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Iterative Development

HL7 is concerned
with the whole
process - not just
drafting documents
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Phases
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HL7 Message Development
Framework (MDF) 1999
Application
Role
Trigger
Event
RIM
Instantiate
Storyboard
Sender
Receiver
D-MIM
Restrict
Triggers
References
Interaction
Example
R-MIM
Restrict
HMD
Restrict
Storyboard
Example
Content
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Message
Type
What is a model?

Two sorts of model:

To describe the real world
• Can never be “right”

To design and build things
• Specification

Always a simplification
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Models and Diagrams
Model is all information in a project
 Model may include Glossary
 Model is much more than a collection of
diagrams
 Each diagram is just one view on a Model
 Most models contain dozens of diagrams

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Real World Models
Abstraction
Abstract
model
Enterprise
model
Situation
model
Scope
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Specification Models
Abstraction
Reference
model
Logical
model
Implementation
model
Scope
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OMG MOF (meta object facility)
M3 meta-metamodel
 M2 meta-model, meta-metadata
(languages)
 M1 model, meta-data (standards)
 M0 data (systems)

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Matrix
Base
standards
(M3)
HL7
architecture
(M2)
UML
Vocabulary
Specification Requirement
(M1)
Specification
Use (M0)
XML
RIM
DataTypes
RMIM
HMD
XML
Schema
Operation
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Testing
UML
Unified Modelling Language
 Mandated in e-GIF
 OMG standard UML 1.1 1997
 Version 1.4 2000
 UML 2.0 2003
 MDA Model Driven Architecture
 XMI (XML Metadata Interchange)

HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd
UML Diagrams
 12
Diagram Types
 Class
diagram
 Activity diagram
 Sequence diagram
 State-chart diagram
 Use case diagram
HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd
UML Notation
Classes and Attributes
 Association (Composition and
Aggregation)
 Specialisation
 Multiplicities (optionality)

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Composition
Composition
includes
1..*
S tatement
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Aggregation
Folder
0..*
Compos ition
inc ludes
1..*
S tatement
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Specialisation
Folder
Document
0..*
Composition
E ncounterRec ord
includes
1..*
S tatement
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Navigation
S ubjec tOfCare
c onc erns
Compos ition
c reated by
HealthCareP arty
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Healthcare Party
ComputerSystem
HealthCareP arty
P erson
HealthCareOrganisation
HealthCareP rofessional
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Attributes
HealthCareP arty
P erson
+personName
ComputerSys tem
HealthCareOrganisation
HealthCareP rofessional
+organisationName
+registrationID
+organisationID
+hcpT ype
+organisationT ype
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Patients and Healthcare Parties
E lectronicAdd ress
0..*
has
P arty
S ubjectOfCare
has
0..*
A ddress
P erson
HealthCareP arty
RelatedPerso n
is
0..*
has
1..*
ComputerSystem
HealthCareOrganisation
at
HealthCareP rofessional
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under care of
P atient
Healthcare Document Structure
Composition
concerns
is
1..*
S ubjectOfCare
P atient
written by
P erson
A uthor
includes
HealthCareP rofessional
HealthCareDocument
1..*
S tatement
may have
A ddressee
HealthCareP arty
at
0..*
CopyDestination
ComputerSys tem
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HealthCareOrganisation
Clinical Information Complexes
Composition
includes
1..*
S tatement
0..*
ClinicalInfoComplex
contains
may have
1..*
ClinicalInfoItem
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Headings and Problem Lists
Composition
HealthTo pic
includes
is label fo r
1..*
0..*
S tatement
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Clinical Statements
Compos ition
is label for
HealthTopic
inc ludes
1..*
S tatement
0..*
0..*
Clinic alInfoCo mplex
1
c ontains
1..*
Clinic alInfoItem
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may have
Clinical Information Items
ClinicalInfoItem
P lanItem
P rocedure
RequestItem
Observation
refers to
MedicationItem
refers to
A nalysableObject
S pecimen
S tudyP roduct
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A dminItem
Conclusions
Health Information is complex, but not
impossibly complex
 This paper has illustrated a few high level
patterns
 UML and XML provide complementary
sets of tools

HL7 UK 2003 (c) Abies Ltd