database schema, was Re: LinuDent and tk_fp and odontolinux
On Tue, 16 Apr 2002, Christian Heller wrote:
> Hi Gaetano,
...
>
> > WHY DON'T WE PLAN A NEW DATABASE STRUCTURE that can be able to
> > manage every medical practice?
>
> The idea is good. But a "new" start is not necessary since the GNUmed
> DB is already there. Many people are working on it and would for sure
> welcome input from your side to integrate Tables for Dental needs.
Gaetano, Christian, Karsten, Horst -
The idea of sharing a database structure comes up from time to time. The
various standard terminologies, GEHR, OIO, and even Res Medicinae
started out with this goal. GEHR and OIO propose a flexible/pluggable
component layer for extending the schema (database structure). Others
have tried to produce all encompassing sets of database tables.
> Horst, Karsten?
All software systems describe a certain data structure (if in database, it
would be a database structure). At some point, if we want to move
information between systems, we need to map one data structure to another.
I doubt implementing an all encompassing set of database tables will be a
viable solution. As Thomas Beale (GEHR) and I repeatedly stated in our
OpenHealth list postings, no set of database tables/schema will ever be
comprehensive. New medical knowledge will always need to be incorporated!
> > And then we could write different clients.
> > (PHP, PHP-Gtk, TclTK, Python, etc.)
>
> GNUmed (Python) uses its DB (of course) and ResMedicinae (Java) might
> eventually also use it (not reached that state yet). Now you have the
> chance to use it, too. I would like to see that!
Sharing the DB is a good idea. However, is the DB schema easy to extend
and manage over time? For example, if I take the GNUmed DB and modify a
few of its tables (e.g. for psychiatry), how do I make sure that I don't
break compatibility with the Internal Medicine modules? How do I make sure
what I added will work with other people's ideas for describing
the psychiatry domain?
This type of "versioning" and change management is precisely what GEHR and
OIO try to do.
I urge you to read Thomas Beale's excellent paper:
http://www.deepthought.com.au/it/archetypes/Output/front.html
...
> But now back to implementation :-)
Yes... :-)
Best regards,
Andrew
---
Andrew P. Ho, M.D.
OIO: Open Infrastructure for Outcomes
www.TxOutcome.Org
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