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SAEAF Education SeriesSession 1: Introduction and OverviewSeptember 2009

SAEAF Education SeriesSession 1: Introduction and OverviewSeptember 2009

HL7 Services-Aware

Enterprise Architecture Framework

(SAEAF)

SAEAF Education Series OverviewSAEAF Education Series Overview

The SAEAF Education Series includes the following sessions:

• Part 1: Introduction and Overview to SAEAF

• Part 2: Behavioral Framework

• Part 3: Enterprise Conformance and Compliance Framework

• Part 4: SAEAF Governance

• Part 5: SAEAF Examples

SAEAF Education Series (1): Part 1: Introduction and Overview to SAEAF

SAEAF Education Series (1): Part 1: Introduction and Overview to SAEAF

The Introduction and Overview includes the following topics:

• SAEAF background

• SAEAF Value Proposition: Working Interoperability

• SAEAF Facts and the Lens of SAEAF

• SAEAF, Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), and Enterprise

Architecture (EA): Core Principles

• History of Services in Health Level 7 (HL7)

• Implications of putting SAEAF into practice

• Summary

SAEAF Education Series (2):Part 2: Behavioral Framework SAEAF Education Series (2):

Part 2: Behavioral Framework

• The Behavioral Framework session includes the following topics:

• Contracts, Roles, Collaborations

• Implementation Patterns for the Behavioral Framework

• Mapping to HL7 Dynamic Model

SAEAF Education Series (3): Part 3: Enterprise Conformance and Compliance Framework

SAEAF Education Series (3): Part 3: Enterprise Conformance and Compliance Framework

• The Enterprise Conformance and Compliance Framework (ECCF) session includes the following topics:

• The multidimensional world of:

– Conformance

– Compliance

– Consistency

– Certification

– Traceability, Jurisdiction, and Provenance

• Layered Specifications and Layered ECCF

• Relationship of ECCF to SAEAF Governance

SAEAF Education Series (4):Part 4: SAEAF Governance

SAEAF Education Series (4):Part 4: SAEAF Governance

• The SAEAF Governance session includes the following topics:

• Role of Technical Steering Committee (TSC)

• Role of Architect Board (ArB)

• Role of Other Standards Developing Organizations (SDO)

• Organizational Impacts

SAEAF Education Series (5):Part 5: SAEAF Examples

SAEAF Education Series (5):Part 5: SAEAF Examples

• The SAEAF Examples session includes the following topics:

• Service Interoperability Paradigm

• Message Interoperability Paradigm

• Document Interoperability Paradigm

SAEAF Series Part 1: Introduction and Overview to SAEAF (1)

SAEAF Series Part 1: Introduction and Overview to SAEAF (1)

• Prerequisites

– No SAEAF prerequisites

– Essential: Familiarity with the problems of achieving working interoperability in the healthcare / life sciences / clinical research domain

– Helpful: General knowledge of HL7

• Outcomes

– Understanding of the organizational principles and contexts around which SAEAF was developed

– General understanding of core components of SAEAF

– Preparation for all other SAEAF Education materials

SAEAF Series Part 1: Introduction and Overview to SAEAF (2): What is SAEAF?SAEAF Series Part 1: Introduction and

Overview to SAEAF (2): What is SAEAF?

The HL7 Services-Aware Enterprise Architecture Framework (SAEAF) provides consistency between all HL7 artifacts, and enables a standardized approach to Enterprise Architecture development and implementation, and a way to measure the consistency.

SAEAF is a way of thinking about producing specifications that explicitly describe the governance, information, and behavioral semantics that are needed to achieve computable semantic working interoperability. The intended information transmission technology might use a services, messaging, or document exchange approach.

SAEAF Series Part 1: Key Definitions

SAEAF Series Part 1: Key Definitions

• Artifact: Any portion of a specification that is controlled and can be versioned.

For example, an artifact can be a model, a document, or an XML schema, for example.

• Services-aware: The definition and use of services technology and the interoperability standards, including the exchange of messages and sharing of documents.

Background (1):A “Services-Aware Enterprise Architecture for HL7”


• April 08: HSSP-sponsored “Services in Healthcare” conference, Chicago, IL (attended by HL7 CTO)

• May 08: HL7 CTO asks the HL7 ArB to “develop a straw man proposal for services development within the context of an HL7 Enterprise Architecture.”

– Specify the artifacts and processes necessary to allow HL7 to define specifications for SOA integration.

– Define an HL7 Enterprise Architecture Framework (EAF) which contextualizes HL7 specifications in a SOA environment.

– Consider services first, but also include messages or documents as Interoperability Paradigms.

– Make HL7 EAF services-aware, not services-specific.



• Summer 08: HL7 Executive Committee agreed to sponsor three face-to-face “ArB EAF Jump Start” meetings.

– Modeled after “Left-Hand Side of the RIM” project (1998)

– Three 3-day meetings in June, July, August, 2008

• Transparent process with open attendance: Published agendas, minutes, and work-in-progress artifacts.

• Jump-Start goal: How should services and other IP artifacts, such as messages and documents, be defined, specified, implemented, and governed within HL7.

• September 08: CTO and TSC requested that the initial results of the Jump-Start process be presented at the Vancouver workgroup (WG) meeting.

• HL7 ArB:

– Yongjian Bao, GE Healthcare

– Jane Curry, Health Information Strategies

– Grahame Grieve, Jiva Medical

– Anthony Julian, Mayo

– John Koisch, NCI

– Cecil Lynch, OntoReason

– Charlie Mead, CTO NCI

– Nancy Orvis, DoD MHS

– Ron Parker, Canada Health Infoway

– John Quinn, Accenture, CTO HL7

– Abdul Malik Shakir, Shakir Consulting

– Mead Walker, Health Data and Interoperability

• Other attendees:

– Alex DeJong, Siemens

– Ed Larsen, HITSP

– Galen Mulrooney, JP Systems, VA

– Scott Robertson, Kaiser

– Rich Rogers, IBM

– Ann Wrightson, NHS UK

Participants brought a wide range of perspectives to the discussion.

Background (3):Jump-Start Participants

Background (3):Jump-Start Participants



• The Jump-Start deliverables include the following:

– “Services-aware” EA framework “informed by” service specification considerations and industry experience

– Identification and initial specification of required infrastructure that is currently missing or incomplete in HL7

• Behavioral Framework (BF)

• Enterprise Conformance and Compliance Framework (ECCF)

• Governance Framework (GF)

– Operational vision for SAEAF deployment



• Implications of putting SAEAF into practice:

– Organizational impact within HL7 and between HL7 and other organizations

– Tooling impact

• Additional SAEAF considerations include:

– Use and reuse of existing HL7 artifacts:

• Reference Information Model (RIM)

• Data types

• Clinical Document Architecture (CDA)

• Refined Message Information Models (RMIMs)

• Vocabulary

• Electronic Health Record System Functional Model (EHRS-FM)



• SAEAF is services-aware but not services-specific.

• SAEAF is not Service-Oriented Architecture.

– The three HL7 Interoperability Paradigms (HL7 Unified Field Theory) consider:

• Messages

• Documents

• Services

• The SAEAF work draws on “service-aware principles,” such as:

– Contracts, roles, and collaborations (“behavior”)

– Conformance and compliance

– Governance

SAEAF Background (7)SAEAF Background (7)

• September 2008

– Initial SAEAF draft is released.

– TSC formally adopts SAEAF as “path forward” for EAS.

– Board of Directors endorses the SAEAF and TSC position.

– TSC proposes “Alpha project” for SAEAF deployment.

• April 09: Staffed and funded.

• Candidate projects identified (all IPs).

– Details of project are in a separate deck (5) and document.

• Focus is on education and change management.

– Scalability

– Governance

– Backward compatibility

SAEAF Implementation: Timeline

SAEAF Implementation: Timeline

• High-level rollout timeline (TSC approved)

Sept W

GM

ArB

OO

C

January W

GM

May

WG

M

Sept W

GM

January W

GM

2008

2009

2010

2008

September WGM – •Planning and socialization•SAEAF initial comment period

2009

January WGM – Impact and education, drafts for comment

ArB OOC and May WGM – Refine SAEAF

Sept WGM – Refine SAEAF, launch Alpha project

SAEAF Value Proposition (1):Working Interoperability


• Working Interoperability:

– Is the collection of structures, processes, and components that support Computable Semantic Interoperability in a Conformance and Compliance Framework.

– SAEAF facilitates the explicit and layered expression of the set of static, functional, and behavioral semantics that collectively enable Working Interoperability.

– The specifications for enabling Working Interoperability must be defined in such a manner so as to ensure that they are usable, useful, and durable. These specifications are implementable in a variety of deployment contexts in a repeatable, understandable manner.



Interoperability Paradigm (messages, documents, services):

These specifications enable two or more HL7 trading partners to collaborate in a specific business interaction.

– No assumptions are made for size, character, or identity of parties (nations, enterprises, departments, individuals, systems)

– No assumptions of exchange details (what, why, how)



•Interoperability: The deterministic exchange of data and information in a manner that preserves shared meaning.

• Two “trading partners” interoperate based on a certified “level of shared compliance” to interoperability standards.

• Certified “level of conformance” determines the degree of automated interoperability that is possible or the difficulty of the transformations that are required to enable interoperability.

Agree on “Reference” view

Agree on “Conceptual” view

Agree on“Platform-Independent” view

Agree on“Platform -Specific” view

A

B

DC

FComponent Component

EA – F: Trading partners

SAEAF Facts (1)SAEAF Facts (1)

Architecture: “A set of resources, relationships, and processes that collectively define a system and its products-of-value.”

• HL7 deals with both internal and external architectures:

1. HL7’s goal is producing products of value (specifications) that make it easy to accomplish working interoperability with external architectures.

2. HL7 specifications are enabling working interoperability in the healthcare, life sciences, and clinical research areas. (These architectures are all external to HL7.)


SAEAF…

– Has structural, relationship, and process implications for architecture #1.

– Is a set of frameworks for producing specifications that support aspects of HL7 architecture #2.

• SAEAF is not meant to be a “complete” Enterprise Architecture.

• SAEAF focuses on the critical interoperability aspects of HL7 specifications in each of the three HL7 Interoperability Paradigms.

– Defines the artifacts and specification semantics needed to support interoperability in healthcare, life sciences, and clinical research.

SAEAF Facts (3) SAEAF Facts (3)

The 3 component frameworks of SAEAF include:

– Behavioral Framework (deck 2)

• Specification of integration semantics of IT components

• Linkage of integration semantics to real-world behaviors

– Conformance and Compliance Framework (deck 3)

• Layered to enable “degrees” of conformance and compliance

– Governance Framework (deck 4)

• Internal HL7 governance

• HL7 relationships to other organizations that specify standards

• Relationships among parties that are implementing working interoperability.

– Informational Framework (in development)


SAEAF…

– is now stable enough to begin “pilot” implementations which:

• Produce SAEAF-compliant message, document, and service specifications.

• Use and provide feedback for SAEAF-centric education.

• Perform through Change management processes for SAEAF.

• Report to the TSC or its designate.

• The focus of TSC activities going forward is:

– Education

– Change management

– Alpha projects in all Interoperability Paradigms

The Lens of SAEAF (1):Contextualizing SAEAFThe Lens of SAEAF (1):Contextualizing SAEAF

• SAEAF represents the intersection of SOA, MDA, CSI, Distributed Systems Architecture, and HL7 (HDF, Core Principles). SAEAF provides goals, artifacts, portions of a methodology, and a framework for defining the HL7 EA, a robust, durable business-oriented set of constructs that provide extensibility, reuse, and governance.

SAEAF

Service-OrientedArchitecture

Reference Modelfor Open DistributedProcessing Model Driven

Architecture

Computable SemanticInteroperability

Health Level 7

The Lens of SAEAF (2):Services-Oriented Architecture

The Lens of SAEAF (2):Services-Oriented Architecture

• Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)

– SAEAF is “services-aware;” not “just about services.”

• Service awareness (at the architecture level) has a need for:

– Behavioral Framework built around contracts and roles.

– Well-defined Conformance and Compliance Framework.

– Focus on Governance.

– Attention to “separation of concerns” (static vs. dynamic).

– Technology-independent specifications.

The Lens of SAEAF (3):Model-Driven Architecture

The Lens of SAEAF (3):Model-Driven Architecture

Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) enables the following:

– Levels of abstraction that layer complexity from conceptual through logical to implementation

• Supports SOA thinking

• Supports partitioning of artifacts to layers of Conformance and Compliance Framework

– Solid tooling support

The Lens of SAEAF (4):Computable Semantic Interoperability


Computable Semantic Interoperability (CSI)

– Pillar #1: Common model across all domains-of-interest

– Pillar #2: Model #1 bound to robust data-type specification

– Pillar #3: Methodology for binding terms from concept-based terms

– Pillar #4: A formally-defined process for specifying the static and behavioral semantics of the interoperability scenario



Computable Semantic Interoperability (CSI)

– Individual domains-of-interest may share common concepts (for example, person).

– CSI informs the generation of SAEAF artifacts.

• Facilitates expression of explicit semantics across multiple domain models (for example, multiple Clinical Domain Models that are constructed in separate clinical domains).

SAEAF

Domain Model

Domain Model

Component Semantic Object

Data Type

Vocabulary Element

The Lens of SAEAF (6):RM-ODP

The Lens of SAEAF (6):RM-ODP

Reference Model for Open Distributed Processing (RM-ODP)

– ISO standard

– Viewpoints and ontology for human semantic interoperability and for creating specifications of distributed systems

RM-ODP (1): ISO Standard (RM – ODP, ISO/IEC IS 10746 | ITU-T X.900 )


• SAEAF uses the Reference Model for Open Distributed Processing (RM-ODP) as its common language for categorizing the various artifacts.

– Five viewpoints in which Conformance Statements are made:

• Enterprise and business viewpoint

• Informational viewpoint

• Computational viewpoint

• Engineering viewpoint

– Viewpoints in which Conformance Statements are validated (conformance tested):

• Technology viewpoint



Enterprise View: concerned with the purpose, scope and policies governing the activities of the specified system within the organization of which it is a part

Information View: concerned with the kinds of information handled by the system and constraints on the use and interpretation of that information;

Computational View: concerned with the functional decomposition of the system into a set of objects thatinteract at interfaces – enabling system distribution;

Engineering View: concerned with the infrastructure required to, and distributionof, the computing resources defined in the Computational View.

Technology View: concerned with the choice of technology to support system distribution

Why?

True?

Where?

How?

What?



• Non-hierarchical and Non-orthogonal

– Each viewpoint often can contain a hierarchy of layered information.

Informatio

n

Bu

siness &

En

terprise

Computational

En

gin

eeri

ng

Technology

The Lens of the SAEAF (7):Health Level 7

The Lens of the SAEAF (7):Health Level 7

Health Level 7

– SAEAF takes several enterprise architecture best practices and approaches, and contextualizes them to HL7, as follows:

• Use of existing HL7 artifacts

– Core principles

– HL7 Development Framework (HDF)

– Refined Message Information Models (RMIM)

– And others

• Awareness of HL7 business context

• Dedication to HL7 mission and goals of Working Interoperability

SAEAF, SOA, and EA (1): Core Principles


• Objectives of the SAEAF project:

– Facilitate organization-wide development of service specifications:

• Enable Unified Field Theory; that is, contextualizing and using SAEAF principles, processes, and practices in the development of other HL7 specifications (messages, documents, and services).

– Define explicitly and support:

• Behavioral Framework (deck 2)

– Contract-based integration

– Functional specification

• Conformance and Compliance Framework (deck 3)

– Traceability of requirements

• Explicit expression of policy and governance (deck 4)



• SAEAF draws on a “combination of forces.”

– Existing HL7 artifacts (RIM, ADTs, CDA, and so on)

– RM-ODP methodology and framework as the lingua franca

– Application Model-Driven Architecture (MDA)

– Commitment to and framework for achieving Computable Semantic Interoperability (CSI)

– Necessity of a Conformance and Compliance Framework

• “…the micrometer, T-square, and plumb-bob of an Enterprise Architecture…”

– Service-awareness using SOA perspectives and explicit framework



• Given the value proposition (Working Interoperability), the following requirements show the need for:

– Definition of data and information to be exchanged

– Definition of functions that enable or perform the exchange

– Traceable mappings of functions to real-world events and business processes

– Reference terms and language for sorting and discussing the above

– Engineering deployment topologies and technology bindings to achieve Working Interoperability

Source: IEEE Standard Computer Dictionary: A Compilation of IEEE Standard Computer Glossaries, IEEE, 1990]

SAEAF, SOA, and EA (4): Core PrinciplesSyntactic vs. Semantic Interoperability

SAEAF, SOA, and EA (4): Core PrinciplesSyntactic vs. Semantic Interoperability

• Main Entry: in·ter·op·er·a·bil·i·tyAbility of a system ... to use the parts or equipment of another system.

• interoperability: Ability of two or more systems or components toexchange information and to predictably use the information that has been exchanged.

Syntactic interoperability(interchange)

Syntax Structure

Semantics Meaning

Semantic Interoperability means reliable, predictable exchange of meaning between two parties, be they machine or persons.

Source: Merriam-Webster web site

Semanticinteroperability

SAEAF, SOA, and EA (5): Core Principles Pillars of CSI

SAEAF, SOA, and EA (5): Core Principles Pillars of CSI

1. Common model is across all domains-of-interest.

– Information Model vs. Data Model

– Domain Analysis Model – Semantics of shared concepts

– Includes optional dynamic or behavioral semantics

• Functions

• Behavior

• Interactions

2. Static Model is bound to a robust data-type specification.

– HL7 V3 Abstract Data Type specification (R2)

– ISO Data Type specification

SAEAF, SOA, and EA (6): Core Principles Pillars of Computable Semantic Interoperability

SAEAF, SOA, and EA (6): Core Principles Pillars of Computable Semantic Interoperability

3. Methodology is for binding terms from concept-based terminologies.

– Domain-specific semantics bound to cross-domain concepts

4. A formally-defined process specifies the static and behavioral semantics of the interoperability scenario, for example:

– RM-ODP- and MDA-based Service Specification Methodology

– Service interfaces and interactions semantics (contracts, service roles, interactions)

– Methodology for specifying exchange or wire format

• CSI Pillars form a key component of Working Interoperability.

SAEAF, SOA, and EA (7): Core PrinciplesIntegration vs. Interoperability


• Implementers need a framework to provide:

– Computable Semantic Interoperability (CSI) –

• Measurable goals

• “Plug and play” patterns of implementation

• Incremental adoption that yields incremental benefit

– Implementable specifications

• Including governance as modeled, testable specifications

• Reflect the semantics of integration (CSI)

– Conformance and Compliance Model

• Implementation needs to fit with the way organizations model, use, and test components.

• Implementation Guides (“Are you ready? How does this work with our new ABC Interface Engine?”)



“Enterprise Architecture is more than just an implementation or technology perspective.”

• Each instance of integration is simple, though not necessarily easy.

– Engineers of any single system understand it well enough to allow integration with any other system.

– Integration is an manufacturing and implementation issue, such as deployment of computational components.

• Interoperability is an engineering and architectural concern that creates multiple context-specific integration solutions.

– The complexity and high-change rate of healthcare information requires Working Interoperability; and therefore, requires an Enterprise Architecture Specification.

SAEAF, SOA, and EA (9): Core PrinciplesEnterprise Integration Paradigms

SAEAF, SOA, and EA (9): Core PrinciplesEnterprise Integration Paradigms

• Service and services-aware perspectives use integration semantics that need to be explicit.

– Integration semantics:

• Static (“the data”)

• Functional (“What data goes in and comes out?”)

• Behavioral (“Who interacts with whom?”)

• Business Context (“Who is interacting where and why?”)

– Integration semantics approximate RM-OPD viewpoints:

• Static informational

• Functional and behavioral computational

• Business context enterprise, computational, engineering

– Integration points between interacting components are testable and enforceable.

SAEAF, SOA, and EA (10): Core PrinciplesSummary: Services and Service Awareness (1)


• Services and services-aware perspectives are supported by various artifacts that:

• Allow them to be specified technologically neutrally.

• Support conformance.

• Provide a framework for specification of various semantics.

• Are necessary for integrating systems across the enterprise.



• Services and services-aware perspectives are not technology-specific per se.

• These perspectives are a framework for approaching the problem of how to design distributed capabilities (sharing information and functions).

• SAEAF is not defining just “services;” SAEAF is defining an approach to describing services.

– SAEAF is using perspectives from the SOA world; hence the phrase “services-aware perspective.”

• Services are not equivalent to Web Services.

SAEAF, SOA, and EA (12): Core PrinciplesServices and Service Awareness (3)

SAEAF, SOA, and EA (12): Core PrinciplesServices and Service Awareness (3)

• Because services cannot directly use the object-oriented principles (for example, encapsulation, polymorphism, and inheritance), it is necessary to construct a set of principles that support service-oriented definition and design.

• Enterprise Architecture is the framework that provides the service-specification foundation and, thus plays a critical role in successful service design.



• The following principles are considered essential for enterprise-level service specifications, which explicitly define testable, verifiable four-dimensioned service contracts:

– Virtualization

– Composition

– Unity of purpose and separation of concerns

– Parsimony

– Technology independence

– Specification supports a layered conformance policy.

• These principles are validated and coordinated in the Service Classification Scheme, as well as in crafting individual services using Specification Best Practices.

History of Services in HL7 (1)History of Services in HL7 (1)

• Early efforts included:

– Electronic Business using eXtensible Markup Language (ebXML)

– Web Service Profile for HL7

• In 2005, the Health Services Specification Project (HSSP) set these goals:

– HL7 established an agreement with the Object Management Group (OMG) to share intellectual capital to support the cooperative development of healthcare-specific services.

• HL7 would specify requirements and some analysis artifacts (Service Functional Model).

• OMG would create the technical specification with industry.


• In support of HSSP, HL7 formed the SOA work group.

• HL7 produced several Service Functional Models (SFMs) balloted as Draft Standard for Trial Use (DSTUs):

– Resource Locate and Update Service (RLUS)

– Entity Identification Service (EIS)

– Decision Support Service (DSS)

– Clinical Research Functional Query Service (CRFQS)

– These SFMs are currently in-progress:

• Privacy and Security Services (PASS)

• Service Provider Registry (SPR)

History of Services in HL7 (3): Alignment of SAEAF and HSSP: Artifacts

History of Services in HL7 (3): Alignment of SAEAF and HSSP: Artifacts

• The artifacts produced by SAEAF and HSSP are similar. However, their processes are quite different.

• The Service Functional Model (SFM) is essentially the same as the SAEAF Analysis Specification artifact.

• SFM should be readily interchangeable for coordinating HL7 SAEAF and HSSP.

History of Services in HL7 (4): Alignment of SAEAF and HSSP: Process

History of Services in HL7 (4): Alignment of SAEAF and HSSP: Process

• HSSP shows how HL7 and OMG can work together to produce specifications. HL7 wants to reuse semantics and OMG wants to reuse application components.

– The Service Specification Framework served as one of the inputs into the SAEAF.

– SAEAF extends the HL7 portion of HSSP by defining Logical and Platform specifications within HL7.

• Functional profiles and semantic profiles

• OMG is interested in aligning these SAEAF artifacts with OMG artifacts.

• SAEAF allows artifacts to be built outside of HL7.

• Both the SAEAF and the HSSP processes support Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) and constraint patterns.


• HL7, services, HSSP, and OMG

– The HSSP process provides one way of intersection between HL7 and OMG.

• The HSSP process is an example of creating constrained specifications that are based on the SAEAF Analysis Specification outside of HL7.

– Other intersections include MDA, SOA ML, United Modeling Language (UML), and Business Process Definition Metamodel (BPDM).

– The HSSP process is encouraged and facilitated by greater specification on the HL7 side.

• The ongoing HL7/OMG relationship is considered important to both organizations.


• The HSSP process exposed other Standards Developing Organizations (SDOs) to the initial aspects of HL7 Service Specifications.

• SAEAF enables HL7 standards to “stand on their own” or be built in collaboration with other organizations (for example, OMG).

– These standards are consumable and implementable within the context of a formal Conformance and Compliance Framework.

• The ArB drew heavily on HSSP and the NCI’s caBIG® experience in developing the SAEAF.


• Services – even as abstractions – have helped surface gaps in the HL7 pantheon of work products:

– Explicit representation of functional and dynamic (behavioral) semantics.

– Flexible integration points with multiple system architectures.

• The development of the SAEAF drew heavily on service-based constructs.

History of Services in HL7 (8):ArB Position on HSSP (1)


• Following discussions with HSSP representatives, the ArB affirms that the HSSP framework is in conceptual alignment with the HL7 SAEAF for both processes and artifacts.

• In particular, the MDA-based process, such as the HSSP Service Specification Framework, produces a Service Functional Model, a Platform-Independent Model, and a Platform-Specific model that are, in principle, in alignment with the HL7 SAEAF. Note that this alignment is between the overarching HSSP process and artifacts -- which by definition include at least two participating organizations (for example, HL7 and OMG) -- and HL7 as the sole producer of SAEAF-compliant processes and artifacts.



• This distinction is important because it is likely that the SAEAF framework will result in processes and artifacts produced completely within HL7 which are not necessarily defined in the HSSP, thereby resulting in some degree of non-alignment. As the SAEAF artifacts and processes mature, it remains an open question as to how (or if) any variations between the SAEAF and the HSSP will be addressed.

Implementing SAEAF – Impact of Change (1): Intra-HL7 Implications (1)


• HL7 Interoperability Paradigms (messages, documents, and services)

– A fully-specified Domain Analysis Model (DAM) is the critical success factor on the road to WI. The DAM:

• Provides traceability to logical and physical levels.

• Binds informational and computational viewpoints.

• Serves as placeholder for the remaining conformance statements for the RM-ODP viewpoints.

• Serves as placeholder for additional policy or governance topics.



Figure 11: Differences and similarities between the specifications delimited by the major category of HL7Interoperability Paradigm (services, documents, and messages). Note that a common set of analysis-levelartifacts collectively define a conceptual level of compliance. Different analysis-derived artifactsthen specify the design and implementation details of each Interoperability Paradigm. In all cases, elements of the SAEAF map to a well-defined “phase” of a standard software development project.



• The diagram shows the common Domain Analysis Model (DAM) artifacts for all Interoperability Paradigms.

– DAM provides a more formal framework for the CDA-based notion of “highly-informational vs. less-informational” exchanges of information.

HL7 Clinical Document Architecture: Single standard forcomputer processable and computer manageable data

Less “Informational” Systems

Highly “Informational” Systems

1001 0100 0100 1011 1110 0101

1001 0100 0100 1011 1110 0101

*

(Wes Rishel, Gartner Group)

1001 0100 0100 1011 1110 0101 1001 0100 0100 1011 1110 0101

*



• HL7 Work Groups

– Much of recent reorganization aligns well with SAEAF:

• Project-based activity vs. static “vertical” organization

• Promotion of fully-specified services to the level of “equal” with messages and documents requires a group to develop the details of specific normative specifications for services.

– The Service Specification Normative artifacts includes:» Normative artifact for Contract.

» Normative artifact for Service Role Specification.

Implementing SAEAF – Impact of Change (5): Inter-HL7 Implications (1)


• HL7 has a number of explicit (memorandum of understanding) and implicit relationships with other SDOs.

• ArB recommends that these relationships all be made as explicit as possible regarding SAEAF.

• For specific examples and more details, see the SAEAF

Introduction and Governance documents.



• Object Management Group (OMG)

– SAEAF artifacts might accelerate OMG ability to produce implementations of “healthcare services.”

• HL7 could supply “full Conceptual and PIM-level” artifacts as input into OMG RFP process.

– SAEAF expects to significantly leverage

• MDA-based transforms

• SOA Pro/UML Metamodel for Services (UMPL)

• Business Process Definition Metamodel (BPDM)

• Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN)



• CBDI Consultancy

– ArB used CBDI Service taxonomy to inform SAEAF.

• W3C

– SAEAF will leverage CDL and WS-* specifications.

– Orlando meeting marked kick-off of HL7, OMG, W3C, and HCLS collaboration.

• OASIS

– ArB will continue to monitor the Normative SOA architecture for input from both a “pure services” and “services-aware” perspective.



• Joint Interoperability Council (JIC)

– HL7

– ISO

– European Committee for Standardization (CEN)

– Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC)

– CSI Pillar #2 is supported by ISO 21090, a product of JIC effort.

– HL7 plans to move SAEAF into the JIC dialogue.

• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is introducing ECCF into NIST testing of HL7 artifacts and systems.

Implementing SAEAF – Impact of Change (9): Tooling and Open Health Tools (1)


• Tooling and Open Health Tools

– Focusing on Working Interoperability and the critical role of architecture.

– Adopting SAEAF ECCF for use in tool specification.

• Mission and Charter

To enable the adoption, development, and deployment of an evolving set of interoperable tools. These tools support the development and deployment of software that enables computable semantic interoperability in the health-care, life sciences, and clinical research domains. Tools are defined as any software component that is not a clinical end-user application, although such software components may form part of an end-user application. Tools are intended to be useful and usable for their intended purpose and to interoperate with each other.



• Mission and Charter (cont’d)

The OHT Architecture Project operates under the Open Health Tools Development Policy and Process (described at http://www.openhealthtools.org/Documents/Open%20Health%20Tools%20-%20Development%20Process.pdf).

This project is chartered by the Board to articulate and adopt a formal architecture framework, architecture principles, and best practices that are focused on relevant interoperability and the use of standards. As its initial goal, the Architecture Project will develop and architecture framework that will enable the evolutionary development of an OHT Platform architecture consistent with the various enterprise architectures built and deployed by OHT stakeholders.



• Mission and Charter (cont’d)

Deliverables include:

– A set of architecture principles.

– A tool classification mechanism that enable stakeholders to contribute and have access to architecture artifacts that underlie the tools.

– A set of templates, patterns, and processes that enable interoperability of OHT tools.

– Identification of potential barriers to interoperability and recommendations to overcome them.

– A recommendation to the board of a governance process to assist in the harvesting, categorization, and custodianship of architecture artifacts.

– An internal and external communication plan.

SAEAF Summary (1)SAEAF Summary (1)

• SAEAF is not a replacement for, or an alternative to, HL7’s existing products, engagements, or offerings.

• SAEAF is an effort to reframe, encompass, and support existing HL7 work streams, and to focus them around a more explicit framework for expressing interoperability semantics.

• SAEAF is the result of a shared belief by the HL7 CTO, ArB, and TSC that the Health Enterprise requires this level of specificity and rigor to achieve scalable, agile interoperability.

– HL7 is establishing a leadership position in this discussion.


• HL7 SAEAF aligns with strategic direction of national health-centric organizations:

– US Department of Defense / VA

– Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel (HITSP)

– Canada Health Infoway

– NCI CBIIT (caBIG®, BIG Health®)

– National e-Health Transition Authority (NeHTA)

• HL7 SAEAF aligns with other industry standards:

– WS-CDL

– SOA Pro

– HISA


• The HL7 Services-Aware Enterprise Architecture Framework (SAEAF) provides a framework for specification of standardized “artifacts that enable Working Interoperability,” which the HL7 community can use regardless of the chosen Interoperability Paradigm (messages, documents, and services).

• The SAEAF defines specific artifacts that provides traceability from requirements through analysis to design and implementation.

• SAEAF-compliant specifications align with conformance levels specified in a Conformance and Compliance Framework (CCF) that enable HL7 consumers to adopt HL7 specifications in different contexts at different levels of interoperability.


• The HL7 Services Aware Enterprise Architecture Framework identifies and defines the language, processes, and artifacts for:

– An Enterprise Architecture appropriate for an SDO using services or services-aware thinking as a backbone concept.

– Developing and deploying standards to enable Working Interoperability.

• Services (and SOA) are not technology per se; they are:

– A framework for approaching how to design distributed capabilities (information and functionality sharing).

– Not equivalent to Web Services (although service constructs as well as other Interoperability Paradigm constructs may be realized using Web Services technology).

SAEAF Summary (5):The Lens of SAEAF

SAEAF Summary (5):The Lens of SAEAF

• The intersection of HL7, MDA, Distributed Systems Architecture, SOA, and CSI provide a goal, the artifacts, portions of a methodology, and the framework for defining SAEAF. SAEAF is a robust, durable business-oriented set of constructs that provide extensibility, reuse, and governance.

Service-OrientedArchitecture

Reference Modelfor Open DistributedProcessing Model-Driven

Architecture

Computable SemanticInteroperability

Health Level 7

SAEAF

SAEAF Summary (6):Conclusion

SAEAF Summary (6):Conclusion

SAEAF: A “Services-Aware Enterprise Architecture for HL7”

• “Services-aware but not services-specific”

– Consideration given to three HL7 “interoperability paradigms” (“HL7 Unified Field Theory”)

• Messages

• Documents

• Services

• The SAEAF work draws on “service-centric principles,” such as:

– Contracts and behavior

– Separation of concerns

– Conformance and compliance

– Governance

2/5/2014 4:51 pm saeaf education series session 1: introduction and overview september 2009 hl7...

Documents

lens of saeaf saeaf

saeaf series

saeaf governance slide

saeaf governance session

saeaf education materials

saeaf examples session

interoperability saeaf

saeaf prerequisites