SCATA Meeting 2002-11 Speaker: Dr Martin Gardner
Title: XML and hand held computers in anaesthesia
Introduction
Despite a recognition that they are essential for the future progress of anaesthesia, computerised anaesthesia information management systems (AIMS) are not in widespread use. Some reasons for this are given by Gardner [4], including the following factors:
- Inadequate vertical integration (transfer of information between phases of the anaesthetic episode)
- Problems of integration with task sequences [1]
- Problems arising from conflicts between clinical and administrative record use [5]
- Limited mobility (PC based systems are unavailable or difficult to use in many clinical locations)
- Lack of workable standards (for both document structure and term vocabularies)
- Inadequate horizontal integration (exchange of information with other hospital systems, such as laboratory or pharmacy systems)
- Lack of perceived benefit to immediate users (eg lack of clinical decision support)
Two of the most important recent developments of the last three years are the advent of XML and related standards; and advances in mobile device technologies. These two developments have very strong synergies, and could have a major impact on AIMS.
XML in anaesthesia
XML is a world standard protocol for representing information structure within a document, related to a much older standard, SGML (Standard General Markup Language). Despite its conceptual simplicity, it is powerful, versatile and very widely applicable. As a product of the World Wide Web Consortium, its development is supported by all major information technology companies.
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of XML for information processing in the next decade. There are already major national government initiatives to promote the use of XML throughout the public sector (see, for example, Health information standards such as HL7 CDA will be implemented using XML [2]. General purpose technologies such as web browsers, word processors and databases will exchange data using XML. Very large scale document storage and retrieval systems based on XML are already available.
The structure of XML documents is specified by a standard known as XML Schema. We have developed a very detailed XML Schema for anaesthetic records, linked to a term lexicon. The schema covers the full extent of the anaesthetic episode, and can be used to exchange anaesthetic information between systems having different internal representation formats.
Mobile computing devices and communications
In the last three years a variety of hand-held computing devices have become available. These devices have fast processors, large memories, and colour screens with pen or keyboard input. Additionally they are able to communicate with other devices and systems either by wired connections or by a variety of wireless connection modes.
We have built a sophisticated prototype mobile workstation for use by anaesthetists. The workstation has an advanced interface; an XML based infrastructure; and the capability for opportunistic wireless communication with other clinical information systems. In 2001 we carried out an evaluation of this workstation for the task of pre-anaesthetic assessment, using a cross-over study comparing the system with paper-based working. The study involved real anaesthetists working with real case data. (Details of the evaluation are given in Gardner, Sage et al [3].
Demonstration
At the meeting we will demonstrate a new version of the prototype workstation for anaesthetists, and discuss the implications of using XML as the basis for information exchange between computerised anaesthesia information systems.
References
- Benda P, Sanderson P. New Technology and Work Practice: Modelling Change with Cognitive Work Analysis. In: Sasse M, Johnson C, editors. INTERACT99; 1999: IOS Press; 1999. p. 566-573.
- Dolin R, Alschuler L, et al. “The HL7 Clinical Document Architecture.” Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association 2001 8(6): 552-569.
- Gardner M, Sage M, Gray P. “Data Capture for Clinical Anaesthesia on a Pen-Based PDA: Is It a Viable Alternative to Paper?” 2001 People and Computers XV, Proceedings of IHM-HCI 2001, Lille, Springer-Verlag.
- Gardner M. “Computerised anaesthesia information management systems: are we on the threshold of widespread use?” Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology 2001 14(6): 643-647.
- Harper RK, O'Hara KPA, et al. “Toward the paperless hospital?” British Journal of Anaesthesia 1997 78: 762-767.