A guideline execution engine is a
computer program
A computer program is a sequence or set of instructions in a programming language for a computer to Execution (computing), execute. It is one component of software, which also includes software documentation, documentation and other intangibl ...
which can interpret a
clinical guideline
A medical guideline (also called a clinical guideline, standard treatment guideline, or clinical practice guideline) is a document with the aim of guiding decisions and criteria regarding diagnosis, management, and treatment in specific areas of ...
represented in a computerized format and perform actions towards the user of an
electronic medical record
An electronic health record (EHR) is the systematized collection of electronically stored patient and population health information in a digital format. These records can be shared across different health care settings. Records are shared thro ...
.
A guideline execution engine needs to communicate with a host
clinical information system
A hospital information system (HIS) is an element of health informatics that focuses mainly on the administrational needs of hospitals. In many implementations, a HIS is a comprehensive, integrated information system designed to manage all the asp ...
.
Virtual Medical Record
The Virtual Medical Record (vMR) is a simplified, standardised electronic health record
An electronic health record (EHR) is the systematized collection of electronically stored patient and population health information in a digital format. T ...
(vMR) is one possible interface which can be used.
The engine's main function is to manage instances of executed guidelines of individual patients.
Architecture
The following modules are generally needed for any engine:
* interface to clinical information system
* new guidelines loading module
* guideline interpreter module
* clinical events parser
* alert/recommendations dispatch
Guideline Interchange Format
The
Guideline Interchange Format A guideline execution engine is a computer program which can interpret a clinical guideline represented in a computerized format and perform actions towards the user of an electronic medical record.
A guideline execution engine needs to communicate ...
(GLIF) is a computer representation format for
clinical guideline
A medical guideline (also called a clinical guideline, standard treatment guideline, or clinical practice guideline) is a document with the aim of guiding decisions and criteria regarding diagnosis, management, and treatment in specific areas of ...
s.
Represented guidelines can be executed using a guideline execution engine.
The format has several versions as it has been improved. In 2003 GLIF3 was introduced.
Use of third party workflow engine as a guideline execution engine
Some commercial
electronic health record
An electronic health record (EHR) is the systematized collection of electronically stored patient and population health information in a digital format. These records can be shared across different health care settings. Records are shared thro ...
systems use a
workflow engine A workflow engine is a software application that manages business processes. It is a key component in workflow technology and typically makes use of a database server.
A workflow engine manages and monitors the state of activities in a workflow, su ...
to execute clinical guidelines. RetroGuide
and HealthFlow
are examples of such an approach.
See also
*
Arden syntax
Arden syntax is a markup language designed for representing and sharing medical knowledge in a standardized, executable format. It is primarily used by clinical decision support systems to generate alerts, interpretations, and manage information ...
*
Medical algorithm
A medical algorithm is any computation, formula, statistical survey, nomogram, or look-up table, useful in healthcare. Medical algorithms include decision tree approaches to healthcare treatment (e.g., if symptoms A, B, and C are evident, then ...
References
Further reading
*
*
(PDF)*{{cite journal , vauthors=Tu SW, Musen MA , title=A flexible approach to guideline modeling , journal=Proc AMIA Symp , pages=420–4 , year=1999 , pmid=10566393 , pmc=2232509 }
(PDF)
Health informatics
Knowledge representation