Earticle

Objectives: The ArdenML is an HL7 standard language for an XML-based representing medical knowledge as logic statements. Problems related to execution of ArdenML are the curly braces problem and the compiler problem, which may be resolved by the introduction of XML-based techniques. This study was aimed at develop an ArdenML based XSLT conforming to HL7 standard. Methods: There were several structural differences in three approaches: Arden Syntax is category; ArdenML is tag; and Visual Basic is comment, function, events, class, and procedure. XSLT was developed by analyzing three approaches. Based on XSLT, ArdenML was translated into Visual Basic and the interface module was developed to allow communicating with legacy systems. Results: Most of the CDSS are independently developed and run, to require reentry of rules. But this system makes it easier to interface with the existing systems simply by translating or compiling rules. Two hundred sixty five of the 285 rules were showed the success after compiling, and 6 errors for the operater query, 14 warnings related to data type were resolved by data re-modeling. Conclusions: ArdenML has been converted into executable files using standard transforms written in the eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformation (XSLT) in visual basic language. Development of Arden Syntax compiler requires not only a lot of time and efforts, but also reorganization of existing systems according to the MLM. It also has curly brace problem and problem of requiring additional compiler.