Title: Workflow modelling of clinical pathway based on modular temporised coloured petri net with changeable structure

Authors: Gang Du, Zhibin Jiang, Xiaodi Diao, Yang Yao

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering & Logistics Management, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 800 Dong Chuan Road, 200 240 Shanghai, China. ' Department of Industrial Engineering & Logistics Management, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 800 Dong Chuan Road, 200 240 Shanghai, China. ' Shanghai Putuo District Central Hospital, 100 Lanxi Road, Shanghai 200 062, China. ' Shanghai No. 6 People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200 233, China

Abstract: Generally, there is a |hard| problem of Clinical Pathway (CP) workflow modelling with uncertainty variances. Therefore, a CP workflow modelling method based on Modular Temporised Coloured Petri Net with changeable structure is proposed, in which the trigger mechanism of activity is introduced, and the dynamics of the treatment process along with |time| for patients can be modelled by the transition firing and connections amongst them. With the predefined arc expressions, the automatic routes of the CP can be realised. Moreover, by using the two structural change algorithms, the CP workflow model can be dynamically updated. A case study on osteosarcoma CP workflow modelling is constructed and analysed by applying the proposed modelling method. The result shows that the built entire osteosarcoma CP model is more manageable and maintainable. Moreover, after a little modification, the model can also be applicable to other CPs workflow modelling (such as caesarean section CP).

Keywords: clinical pathways; coloured petri net; workflow modelling; uncertainty variances; osteosarcoma; changeable structures; temporised petri net; modular petri net; trigger mechanisms; treatment processes; patients; transition firing; predefined expressions; arc expressions; automatic routes; structural change algorithms; caesarean section; healthcare; health services; surgery; doctors; China; hospitals; bone cancer; medical activity; services operations; informatics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOI.2011.041417

International Journal of Services Operations and Informatics, 2011 Vol.6 No.3, pp.183 - 210

Published online: 07 Mar 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article