Embedding the Guideline Elements Model in Web Ontology Language

The Guideline Elements Model (GEM) uses XML to represent the heterogeneous knowledge contained in clinical practice guidelines. GEM has important applications in computer aided guideline authoring and clinical decision support systems. However, its XML representation format could limit its potential impact, as semantic web ontology languages, such as OWL, are becoming major knowledge representation frameworks in medical informatics. In this work, we present a faithful translation of GEM from XML into OWL. This translation is intended to keep the knowledge model of GEM intact, as this knowledge model has been carefully designed and has become a recognized standard. An OWL representation would make GEM more applicable in medical informatics systems that rely on semantic web. This work will also be the initial step in making GEM a guideline recommendation ontology.

[1]  D. Bergman,et al.  Clinical practice guidelines in pediatric and newborn medicine: implications for their use in practice. , 1997, Pediatrics.

[2]  Richard N. Shiffman,et al.  Using GEM-encoded guidelines to generate medical logic modules , 2001, AMIA.

[3]  Samina Raza Abidi,et al.  Ontology-based Modeling of Clinical Practice Guidelines: A Clinical Decision Support System for Breast Cancer Follow-up Interventions at Primary Care Settings , 2007, MedInfo.

[4]  J L Freeman,et al.  Variations in rates of hospitalization of children in three urban communities. , 1989, The New England journal of medicine.

[5]  Samina Raza Abidi,et al.  Ontology-Based Modeling of Breast Cancer Follow-up Clinical Practice Guideline for Providing Clinical Decision Support , 2007, Twentieth IEEE International Symposium on Computer-Based Medical Systems (CBMS'07).

[6]  Vojtech Svátek,et al.  Step-by-step mark-up of medical guideline documents , 2003, Int. J. Medical Informatics.

[7]  E. McGlynn,et al.  The quality of health care delivered to adults in the United States. , 2003, The New England journal of medicine.

[8]  A. Gittelsohn,et al.  Variations in medical care among small areas. , 1982, Scientific American.

[9]  Samina Raza Abidi,et al.  Semantic Web Framework for Knowledge-Centric Clinical Decision Support Systems , 2007, AIME.

[10]  Richard N. Shiffman,et al.  Model Formulation: GEM: A Proposal for a More Comprehensive Guideline Document Model Using XML , 2000, J. Am. Medical Informatics Assoc..

[11]  Richard N. Shiffman,et al.  Model Formulation: Bridging the Guideline Implementation Gap: A Systematic, Document-Centered Approach to Guideline Implementation , 2004, J. Am. Medical Informatics Assoc..

[12]  A S Detsky,et al.  Regional variation in medical care. , 1995, The New England journal of medicine.

[13]  Jacques Bouaud,et al.  Does GEM-Encoding Clinical Practice Guidelines Improve the Quality of Knowledge Bases? A Study with the Rule-Based Formalism , 2003, AMIA.