Healthcare semantic interoperability platform

Abstract

A system and method for efficiently linking local databases having different data formats or standards into a network, wherein a content based router is provided between each of the databases and a network “party line” bus and translates data from the respective database into a common canonical form or format so that all information within the network between the content based routers complies with the common canonical form and are validated according to single standard or mechanism, for example when information first enters the network. Also provided is a tracking or audit mechanism whereby each item of information provided with a unique network identifier when it first enters the network, and is also provided with or associated with a local identifier from each local database that originates or accesses the information item and router identifiers of the content based routers corresponding to those local databases.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method for tracking information within a network of local information system systems each having a local database, wherein each of the local information systems is directly connected to at least one network appliance and communicates with other local information systems in the network via the respective network appliances, and wherein the network appliances connect with each other via a broadcast network, the method comprising:
 a first network appliance receiving event information regarding an event from the local information system connected to it, wherein the event information at least identifies the event;   the first network appliance generating a unique network identifier for the event;   transferring the event information among a plurality of local information systems via the network appliances respectively connected to the plurality of local information systems;   storing trace information in association with the unique network identifier, by each of the network appliances that transfers the event information to or from the local information system connected to the respective network appliance, wherein the trace information comprises: a) local information system identifiers for the event that are provided by each of the local information systems that either generates or receives the event information; and b) identifiers for each of the network appliances that transfers the event information to or from the local information system connected to the respective network appliance.   
     
     
         22 . The method are recited in  claim 21 , comprising:
 each network appliance that receives from the local information system connected to it a first local information identifier for a first event, broadcasting the first local information identifier and an association of the first local information identifier to a first unique network identifier for the first event, to the other network appliances;   each network appliance that receives the broadcast first local information identifier, and that has stored trace information associated with the first unique network identifier, adding the first local information identifier to the stored trace information associated with the first unique identifier.   
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , comprising:
 validating event information transferred from local information systems to at least one of the network appliances according to a same standard.   
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the validating is performed by at least one of the plurality of network appliances. 
     
     
         25 . At least one computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed on a machine cause the machine to:
 track information within a network of local information system each having a local database, wherein each of the local information systems is directly connected to at least one network appliance and communicates with other local information systems in the network via the respective network appliances, and wherein the network appliances connect with each other via a broadcast network;   enable a first network appliance to receive event information regarding an event from the local information system connected to it, wherein the event information at least identifies the event and wherein the event information comprises patient health care information;   generate a unique network identifier for the event;   transfer the event information among a plurality of local information systems via the network appliances respectively connected to the plurality of local information systems; and   store trace information in association with the unique network identifier at each of the network appliances that transfers the event information to or from the local information system connected to the respective network appliance, wherein the trace information comprises: a) local information system identifiers for the event that are provided by each of the local information systems that either generates or receives the event information; and b) identifiers for each of the network appliances that transfers the event information to or from the local information system connected to the respective network appliance.   
     
     
         26 . The medium as recited in  claim 25  further comprising instructions to:
 enable each network appliance that receives from the local information system connected to it a first local information identifier for a first event, to broadcasting the first local information identifier and an association of the first local information identifier to a first unique network identifier for the first event, to the other network appliances; 
 enable each network appliance that receives the broadcast first local information identifier, and that has stored trace information associated with the first unique network identifier, to adding the first local information identifier to the stored trace information associated with the first unique identifier; and 
 validate event information transferred from local information systems to at least one of the network appliances according to a same standard. 
 
     
     
         27 . The medium as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the information within the network of local information systems is patient health care information 
     
     
         28 . A computer-implemented method for tracking patient health care information within a network of local information systems each having a local database, wherein each of the local information systems is directly connected to at least one network appliance and communicates with other local information systems in the network via the respective network appliances, and wherein the network appliances connect with each other via a broadcast network, the method comprising:
 a first network appliance receiving event information regarding an event from the local information system connected to it, wherein the event information at least identifies the event;   the first network appliance generating a unique network identifier for the event;   the first network appliance transferring the event information to the network for distribution among a plurality of local information systems via the network appliances respectively connected to the plurality of local information systems;   the first network appliance receiving event information from at least one other network appliance in the network, including at least one other unique network identifier provided by the at least one other network appliance; and   the first network appliance storing, for each set of received event information, trace information wherein the trace information includes the unique network identifier associated with the received event information and a) local information system identifiers for the event that are provided by each of the local information systems that either generates or receives the event information; and b) identifiers for each of the network appliances that transfers the event information to or from the local information system connected to the respective network appliance.   
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 28 , comprising:
 the first network appliance receiving from the local information system connected to it a first local information identifier for a first event, and broadcasting the first local information identifier and an association of the first local information identifier to a first unique network identifier for the first event, to other network appliances;   the first network appliance receiving from an other network appliance a second trace information relating to a second event wherein the second trace information comprises a second local information identifier and a second unique identifier for a second event;   the first network appliance generating a second local information identifier corresponding to the second event; and   the first network appliance storing the second trace information in association with the second local information identifier.   
     
     
         30 . At least one computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed by a machine cause the machine to:
 enable a first network appliance to receive from a local information system connected to it a first local information identifier for a first event, and broadcasting the first local information identifier and an association of the first local information identifier to a first unique network identifier for the first event, to other network appliances;   enable the first network appliance to receive from an other network appliance second trace information relating to a second event wherein the second trace information comprises a second local information identifier and a second unique identifier for a second event;   enable the first network appliance to generate a second local information identifier corresponding to the second event; and   enable the first network appliance to store the second trace information in association with the second local information identifier.