Universal Data Element Framework - How UDEF Works

How UDEF Works

UDEF provides semantic links, through assigning an intelligent, derived ID as an attribute of the data element, essentially labeling the element as a specific data element concept. When this UDEF ID exists in both source and target formats, it can then be used as an easy analysis point via a match report, and then as the primary pivot point for transformations between source and target.

UDEF takes a list of high-level root object classes and assigns an integer to each class plus alpha characters to each specialization modifier. It then also assigns integers to property word plus integers to each specialization modifier. These object class alpha-integers are concatenated together with the property integers to form a dewey-decimal like code for each data element concept.

For the following examples, go to http://www.opengroup.org/udefinfo/htm/en_defs.htm and expand the applicable UDEF object and property trees

Assuming an application used by a hospital needs to map the data element concepts to the UDEF, the last name and first name (within UDEF you will find Family Name and Given Name under the UDEF property Name) of several people that are likely to appear on a medical record that could include the following example data element concepts –

Patient Person Family Name – find the word “Patient” under the UDEF object “Person” and find the word “Family” under the UDEF property “Name”

Patient Person Given Name – find the word “Patient” under the UDEF object “Person” and find the word “Given” under the UDEF property “Name”

Doctor Person Family Name – find the word “Doctor” under the UDEF object “Person” and find the word “Family” under the UDEF property “Name”

Doctor Person Given Name – find the word “Doctor” under the UDEF object “Person” and find the word “Given” under the UDEF property “Name”

The associated UDEF IDs for the above are derived by walking up each tree respectively and using an underscore to separate the object from the property. For the examples above, the following data element concepts are available within the current UDEF – see http://www.opengroup.org/udefinfo/htm/en_ob5.htm and http://www.opengroup.org/udefinfo/htm/en_pr10.htm

“Patient Person Family Name” the UDEF ID is “au.5_11.10”

“Patient Person Given Name” the UDEF ID is “au.5_12.10”

“Doctor Person Family Name” the UDEF ID is “aq.5_11.10”

“Doctor Person Given Name” the UDEF ID is “aq.5_12.10”