Application of the openEHR reference model for PGHD: A case study on the DH-Convener initiative

Abstract

Objectives: Patient-Generated Health Data (PGHD) is increasingly influential in therapy and diagnostic decisions. PGHD should be integrated into electronic health records (EHR) to maximize its utility. This study evaluates the openEHR Reference Model (RM) compatibility with the DH-Convener initiative's modules (Data Collection Module and Data Connector Module) as a potential concept for standardizing PGHD across wearable health devices, focusing on achieving interoperability.

Materials and methods: The study analyzes various types of PGHD, assessing the data formats and structures used by wearable tools. We evaluate openEHR RM specification with our initiative, DH-Convenor, focusing on PGHD semantic interoperability challenges. We evaluated current Archetypes and Templates that are now created and exist on openEHR Clinical Knowledge Management (CKM) and mapped them to our requirements. The DH-Convener modules are examined for their compatibility in standardizing PGHD integration into openEHR clinical workflows and compared with other existing standards for flexibility, scalability, and interoperability.

Results: The findings indicate that the diversity in data formats across wearable tools and openEHR shows strong potential as unifying data models based on the DH-Convener's modules. It supports a wide range of PGHD types in existing archetypes and aligns well with our initiative's requirements for storing PGHD, enabling more seamless integration into EHR systems.

Discussion: Integrating PGHD into EHR is crucial for personalized healthcare, but inconsistent device formats hinder interoperability. The DH-Convener leverages openEHR to provide a strong solution, though stakeholder collaboration remains essential. Our initiative demonstrates openEHR's ability to ensure consistency, particularly in Europe.

Conclusion: We aligned the openEHR layers with the DH-Convener modules, demonstrating openEHR's compatibility for storing PGHD and supporting interoperability goals, such as standardized storage and seamless data transfer to Austria's national EHR. Future efforts should prioritize promoting these models and ensuring their adaptability to emerging wearable devices.

Keywords: Electronic Health Record (EHR); Health Data Integration; Healthcare interoperability standards; Patient-Generated Health Data (PGHD); Wearable devices.