TSMI: a CEN/TC251 standard for time specific problems in healthcare informatics and telematics

Time is the most important variable in healthcare, and standards are needed about how to represent information with explicit references to time. In this paper, the European Prestandard 'TSMI: time standards for healthcare specific problems' (CEN/TC251 preENV 12381) is presented which aims to be the first contribution to this harmonisation process, focusing on 'representation' and 'explicit reference' of temporal information in healthcare. The prestandard is mainly composed of two parts. First, the basic building blocks for modelling time-related information are introduced, and a formal representation scheme proposed. In a second part, conformance rules and principles for Healthcare Data and Information as well as for Healthcare Information Systems, are covered.