Guidelines-based workflow systems

Abstract

This paper describes a methodology for achieving an efficient allocation of resources while using clinical practice guidelines. The resulting system can be classified as a “guideline-based patient workflow management system”. Both medical and organisational knowledge are represented through computational formalisms, from relational tables to Petri net. Human and technological resources, necessary to guideline-based activities, are represented within an organisational model. This allows running the Petri net for simulating the implementation of the guideline in the clinical setting, in such a way to validate the model and to suggest an optimal resource allocation, before the workflow system is installed. Finally, we are experimenting the real setting implementation. For illustrating the methodology, an application concerning the management of acute ischemic stroke is presented.