The homecare digital ecosystem: An information system support architecture

As the number of elderly people increases, so does the need for innovative technology enabling to keep these old persons in their own home, as long as they so desire and as is technically and medically feasible. In the framework of a regional research project we are working on an information system aiming at managing the various processes involved in caring for elderly persons in their home. We present an information system that improves the management of the workflows involved in the homecare activity. Homecare workflows are modeled using the BPMN (Business Process Modeling Notation). An electronic version of the liaison logbook serves as the user interface of the workflow system. The alarms and information that are relevant to the carer's activity (nurse, doctor) are readily available when he/she logs into the system upon his/her arrival. The tasks to be performed are indicated and the carer has the opportunity to indicate whether and how these tasks have been performed. Each of the carers also has the opportunity to transmit relevant information to the other carers. The transmission of information from the home to the homecare association and back is also handled by the system. Finally, the instantiation of new workflows is made easier by the definition of patients' profiles that define typical workflows that might be useful for a specific type of patient.