A Common Data Model for the standardization of intensive care unit (ICU) medication features in artificial intelligence (AI) applications

ObjectiveCommon Data Models provide a standard means of describing data for artificial intelligence (AI) applications, but this process has never been undertaken for medications used in the intensive care unit (ICU). We sought to develop a Common Data Model (CDM) for ICU medications to standardize the medication features needed to support future ICU AI efforts. Materials and MethodsA 9-member, multi-professional team of ICU clinicians and AI experts conducted a 5-round modified Delphi process employing conference calls, web-based communication, and electronic surveys to define the most important medication features for AI efforts. Candidate ICU medication features were generated through group discussion and then independently scored by each team member based on relevance to ICU clinical decision-making and feasibility for collection and coding. A key consideration was to ensure the final ontology both distinguished unique medications and met Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) guiding principles. ResultsUsing a list of 889 ICU medications, the team initially generated 106 different medication features, and 71 were ranked as being core features for the CDM. Through this process, 106 medication features were assigned to two key feature domains: drug product-related (n=43) and clinical practice-related (n=63). Each feature included a standardized definition and suggested response values housed in the electronic data library. This CDM for ICU medications is available online. DiscussionThe CDM for ICU medications represents an important first step for the research community focused on exploring how AI can improve patient outcomes and will require ongoing engagement and refinement. Lay SummaryMedication data pose a unique challenge for interpretation by artificial intelligence (AI) because of the alphanumerical combinations (e.g., ibuprofen 200mg every 4 hours) and because of the technical detail associated with drug prescriptions (e.g., ibuprofen 200mg and acetaminophen 325mg are both starting doses and round tablet sizes, so it would be incorrect for the machine to view 325mg as more than 200mg). Because AI has great potential to improve the safety and efficacy of medication use, a common data model for ICU medications (ICURx) is proposed here to overcome these challenges and support AI efforts in medication analysis.