Achieving Interoperable Datasets in Pediatrics: A Data Integration Approach

Despite their increased secondary value for developing applications and knowledge gain, routine, harmonized and standardized datasets are often not available in Pediatrics. We propose a data integration pipeline towards an interoperable routine dataset in pediatric intensive care medicine. Our three-level approach involves identifying relevant data from primary source systems, developing local data integration processes, and converting data into a standardized, interoperable format using openEHR. We modeled 15 openEHR templates and established 31 interoperable ETL processes, resulting in anonymized, standardized data of about 4,200 pediatric patients that were loaded into a harmonized database. Based on our pipeline and templates, we successfully integrated the first part of this data in our openEHR data repository. We seek to inspire other pediatric intensive care units to adopt similar approaches, with the aim of breaking down heterogenous data silos and promoting secondary use of routine data.