Introduction

The Temple Diagram is intended to provide an easy framework for understanding the lifecycle of health software and health IT systems, from initial concept through design and development by the manufacturer to implementation within a healthcare delivery organization, clinical use by that organization and eventual decommissioning. It provides a simple model, and as such does not address all complexities, such as the interaction of the multitude of different components of a healthcare delivery organisation's network.

The Temple Diagram

The life-cycle foundation

The foundation to successful health software and health IT systems is illustrated using three components:

1. A common set of terms, definitions, concepts and core themes. The terms and their definitions are reproduced on this website.
2. Robust governance throughout the life cycle including clear handover of accountability and
3. Co-operative working with effective knowledge transfer between parties to deliver shared responsibilities.

These are achieved by establishing a positive organisational culture with clearly defined roles and competent staff. This enables an integrated management system to be adopted with includes managing:

• quality
• risk
• safety
• security
• Information
• privacy

To enable competent staff to discharge their roles and responsibilities effectively, due account of human factors needs to be taken, including ensuring solutions are useable and are designed to avoid misuse.

Left side and right side

The pillars of the temple are drawn in three blocks

1. The left hand block holds all the activities involved in the manufacturer of a product
2. The middle block contains all the activities involved in implementing a product so that it can provide health and care benefit. These activities need close collaboration between the manufacturer and the healthcare delivery organization though ultimate accountability lies with the healthcare delivery organization
3. The right hand block covers the use of the product in the health care setting, clearly the responsibility of the healthcare delivery organization, however the manufacturer retains a duty to advise and provide guidance to the healthcare delivery organisation. In some jurisdictions, this is a statutory duty.

The left hand block is often referred to as the left side of the temple, with the centre and right hand blocks referred to as the right side.