Detailed Clinical Models
NEHTA is actively engaging with the healthcare community to develop computable clinical content definitions known as Detailed Clinical Models (DCMs). Each Detailed Clinical Model is inclusive of all data attributes and potentially terminology bindings that are useful to describe a single, discrete clinical concept for use in a broad range of clinical scenarios. Examples of DCMs include: Problem/Diagnosis, Adverse Reaction, Medication order, Blood Pressure measurement, and a symptom.
The latest release of Detailed Clinical Models can be found under the Clinical Information Detailed Clinical Model Specifications drop down acordion.
If you would like to become actively involved in developing these DCMs, please self-register using the ‘Sign Up’ button in the top right of the Clinical Knowledge Manager (CKM) screen
What will the collaboration produce?
The collaboration process in the NEHTA Clinical Knowledge Manager (CKM) will result in a library of archetypes (initially openEHR archetypes) based upon requirements identified by Australian clinicians and other health domain experts, and drawing from comparable work overseas. To create the DCMs, these archetypes will be transformed into platform and reference model agnostic models (based upon ISO 11179). They will then be uploaded to the National Information Component Library that NEHTA is in the process of building.
Initially, the DCMs will be available only in human-readable PDF format. In the medium term we intend to make them available in a number of machine-readable formats, and we will consult the community to determine what formats are required. CKM is being used to gather and formalise requirements for the DCMs and to support the life cycle management of each DCM through a collaborative, online review process. This provides an important vehicle for clinicians and domain experts to validate that the clinical requirements have been met, and warrant that the resulting published DCMs are safe, high quality and fit for purpose.
What can be done with the DCMs produced?
Published DCMs will become a core national resource for expressing clinical content in a consistent, re-usable and standardised way. Multiple DCMs can be constrained and/or combined together into implementable specifications that can be used across all of Australia’s eHealth activities, including the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) and all health information exchanges, such as Health Summaries and eReferrals.
What is the work program?
Priorities for DCM development and review will initially be based on the needs of the NEHTA work program and the needs of the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR). Initial development priorities are core clinical concepts:
- Medications & Immunisations
- Adverse Reactions
- Medical History (including Problems and Diagnosis)
- Lifestyle Risk Factors
- Family History
- Social History
- Laboratory and pathology tests (including general laboratory, microbiology and anatomical pathology)
- Requested Services
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Clinical Synopsis
- Procedure
- Reason for encounter
Who should get involved?
NEHTA invites any interested individuals to self-register in the Clinical Knowledge Manager and become actively involved in the CKM online community and DCM development process. This includes the broadest range of clinicians, health domain experts and consumers. We encourage organisations to nominate individuals to join the community review process on behalf of their organisation.
There is a very important need for non-technical contributions from grassroots clinicians to warrant that the clinical content of each DCM itself is correct and appropriately defined. Review of the more technical aspects of each DCM will be covered by team members who have been identified as having technical, terminology and informatics expertise
How can I get involved?
All DCMs in the Clinical Knowledge Manager are publicly available, however if you would like to become actively involved please self-register using the ‘Sign Up’ button in the top right of the CKM screen.
Once registered, you can:
- Adopt a DCM - register your interest in participating in the review of an unpublished DCM either prior to, or during, a team review.
- Discuss – contribute to threaded discussions with other members of the CKM community about each DCM. This will feed into a formal team review process at a later date.
- Volunteer to review the clinical content of DCMs – technical knowledge is NOT required; however informatics knowledge is useful and sound clinical knowledge highly sought! Input from consumers is also sought to ensure that these models can be utilised in personally controlled records as well as in clinician records. Please adopt each DCM in which you would like to participate in the team review process.
For more information:
For further information on the Clinical Knowledge Manager and to check the status on archetype development please click here.
To view video instructions on using the Clinical Knowledge Manager please view our YouTube video here.
Alternatively, you can contact the DCM team at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it