Sessions at EuroPython 2011 about Python and Healthcare

Tuesday 21st June 2011

• Using Python in Software for the Medical Industry

  by Wesley Chun

  (if there are no more 45-minute speaking slots, 30-minutes will work too.)

  The medical industry has long been dominated by custom software written by manufacturers of medical equipment. With the widespread use of lower-cost computing power and abundance of software developers using cost-beneficial open source development tools, it is no surprise that this is a rapidly-growing field in software engineering. In this talk, I will describe some of my experiences using Python and other open source tools, temporarily transitioning from the world of the web and Internet development, jumping into the medical industry, an experience much like being a fish out of water.
  The experiences of working in this field, specifically developing software for use in clinical trials. We describe the use of open source tools for such software development, the required integration with closed-source software, and the documentation rigor that is necessary in a field under the jurisdiction of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In particular, I'll describe direct experience in building an application for the use of analyzing spinal fractures and the various tools that make up the application suite, whose primary development language was Python. We will also discuss the particular role of the my employer at the time in the clinical trials process and elaborate on the data flow that was necessary for all medical applications developed at the firm, not just the one in particular.

  • Clinical Trials
  • Healthcare
  • Python

  At 3:30pm to 4:30pm, Tuesday 21st June

  Coverage video

Thursday 23rd June 2011

• Gestione di processi clinici in Python: un caso d'uso

  by Federico Caboni

  In questo seminario descriverò la nostra esperienza positiva d'uso di Python per lo sviluppo di un sistema di etichettatura di provette per il prelievo sanguigno in ambito di laboratorio e corsia ospedaliera. Il sistema è basato sui Technical Framework di IHE –standard industriale per la modellazione di processi clinici– ed è progettato per ridurre gli errori umani e assicurare la tracciabilità del processo.

  Durante il seminario spiegherò perché abbiamo scelto Python in primo luogo, e descriverò come siamo stati in grado di sfruttarne le caratteristiche peculiari nello specifico del nostro dominio, esaminando le limitazioni e i problemi affrontati.

  Mostrerò specifici casi –compreso qualche esempio di codice– d'uso di Python in parti differenti del progetto, come un driver di basso livello per la gestione della robotica di laboratorio, un modulo di comunicazione asincrona, l'implementazione di attori IHE, e l'inevitabile applicazione web sviluppata in Django.

  Usare Python ha contribuito enormemente alla progettazione del sistema, e ci ha consentito di adottare cicli di prototipizzazione estremamente rapidi, sia per l'hardware che per il software. Durante il seminario parlerò anche di ciò che, secondo noi, ancora manca perché Python possa guadagnarsi il posto che gli spetta come piattaforma credibile per l'implementazione di processi clinici basati sui più diffusi standard internazionali.

  • Healthcare
  • Python

  At 11:15am to 12:15pm, Thursday 23rd June

  Coverage video

Friday 24th June 2011

• Healthcare process management in Python: a use case

  by Federico Caboni

  In this talk I'll describe our successful experience in introducing Python
  into a system for blood collection tube labeling in laboratory and hospital
  environments, based on IHE Technical Frameworks –the industry standard
  for modeling and streamlining healthcare processes– and designed to avoid
  human errors and ensure process traceability.

  During the talk I will explain why we chose Python in the first place,
  how we've been able to leverage the language's features and
  characteristics for our specific field and what problems and limitations
  we faced.

  I will show specific instances -showing code examples too– of Python
  usage in different parts of the project, including a low-level driver
  for laboratory automation machinery, an asynchronous messaging module,
  the implementation of IHE-compliant actors and the inevitable end-user
  web application, implemented with Django.

  Using Python greatly helped us in building our system, allowing
  very rapid prototyping cycles for both hardware and software, but during
  the talk I'll also point out what we found was missing, and what
  would be nice to have to ensure Python has its proper place as a viable
  platform for designing streamlined healthcare workflows
  based on established international standards.

  • Case Studies
  • Django
  • Healthcare
  • Python

  At 3:30pm to 4:30pm, Friday 24th June

  Coverage video