Flexibility through case handling in careflow systems: A case study of cutaneous melanoma

This paper deals with a form of workflow flexibility called case handling as applied to healthcare systems, called careflow systems. We consider a case study of cutaneous melanoma to illustrate flexibility of careflow systems. We first present algorithmic version of medical guidelines for cutaneous melanoma and then model these medical guidelines using YAWL workflow design tool that is based on Petri nets model of computation. We consider both rigid and flexible models of related careflow systems. The YAWL flexible model uses case handling as a form of careflow flexibility. We compare both models from a perspective of functionality and usability.