Setting up a common architecture for EPR in primary care: The Belgian experience

A couple of years ago, the Belgian Federal Ministry of Health decided to back the development of a basic conceptual model for Electronic Patient Record (EPR) in primary care. Using consensus and modeling relational techniques, a working group of experts and experienced practitioners identified 7 key structuring concepts: Health Care Element, Health Approach, Contact, Subcontact, Service, Health Agent, Period. This model could roughly be seen as a restrictive sub-model of the current CEN proposal (prENV 13940) or as a first step to assess this CEN pre-Norm in Belgium. The conceptual model is already used in teaching activities and in a Belgian software labeling process.