Discovery health information model

The Discovery common information model consists of a set of components that are integrated as a whole to create something that is bigger than the sum of the parts.

The model has a much broader definition than simply a data model. It involves the modelling of the way in which data is converted to information.

A model is a representation of something real. Information is derived from an arrangement of data for particular purposes. An information model is a model of information.

More specifically, in this context, the information model is tailored to illustrate arrangements of health and care data as held in health records for the purposes of understanding and query as described by theobjectives of the information model.

 

Information model component types

The model involves a close collaboration between different types of components, the collaboration occurring as a result of a common language which is both human readable (albeit quite technical) and machine readable. The components work together, so that the generation of output or the query of content, usually uses several components.

This diagram illustrates the main types of components of the model: