MedIDok--an Intranet tool for XML-based data modelling in medicine.

Integration of administrative, clinical and scientific documentation in medicine is a challenge because of the complexity and dynamics of the underlying data models. At least 50 items per procedure are necessary for clinically adequate documents. Extensive fine tuning is required to achieve acceptance by physicians, thus rapid prototyping is important. The results of this modelling process should be provided independently of specific implementations for reasons of portability. To address these needs we developed MedIDok (Medical Intranet-based Documentation), a set of intranet tools to generate and maintain specific documentation systems (generated programs, no manual coding) and the associated data models. The data structures are provided in XML format and therefore can be reused with other software architectures. The feasibility of non-redundant Intranet systems for both clinical and scientific information management is assessed covering the following domains at a major university hospital: hip ultrasound, endoscopic cholecystectomy, ESWL (extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy) and implantable cardiac defibrillators. With the programs generated by MedIDok so far more than 10,000 patient contacts have been documented.