openEHR

openEHR is an open-source specification and methodology for managing health information. It focuses on the development and deployment of interoperable electronic health records (EHRs) based on an open architecture, allowing for the reuse and sharing of clinical data across different systems and institutions.

At its core, openEHR utilizes a two-level modeling approach:

• Archetypes: These represent clinical concepts, such as blood pressure, medication prescription, or allergy, in a vendor-neutral and computable format. Archetypes are developed and maintained by clinical experts and capture the semantic meaning of clinical data. They are reusable and can be combined to form templates.

• Templates: Templates are compositions of archetypes, defining specific clinical documents or data sets required for a particular purpose, such as a discharge summary or a specific clinical pathway. They constrain archetypes to ensure consistent data entry and reporting.

This two-level approach separates clinical knowledge (archetypes) from technical implementation (templates and software), allowing clinical models to evolve independently from the underlying software. This facilitates long-term maintainability and adaptability to changing clinical needs.

Key characteristics of openEHR include:

• Open Standards: The openEHR specifications are freely available and based on open standards, promoting interoperability and vendor independence.

• Vendor Neutrality: openEHR aims to be independent of specific software vendors, allowing organizations to choose the solutions that best meet their needs.

• Clinical Focus: The modeling approach prioritizes clinical input and ensures that EHRs accurately reflect clinical practice.

• Interoperability: The use of archetypes and open standards facilitates the exchange of clinical data between different systems.

• Long-Term Maintainability: The separation of clinical knowledge from technical implementation allows for easier maintenance and adaptation of EHR systems over time.

openEHR is used in a variety of healthcare settings worldwide, supporting the development of interoperable EHRs, clinical data repositories, and decision support systems. It is governed by the openEHR Foundation, a non-profit organization that oversees the development and maintenance of the specifications. The foundation fosters a community of clinicians, developers, and researchers who collaborate to advance the adoption of openEHR.