The main purpose of the TOPICA framework is to enable users to register data about patients. Mechanisms for registering general data about patients such as the patients name, address, age and so on is an intrinsic part of the framework but the real strength of the TOPICA framework lies in its ability to allow configurators to dynamically extend the patient data model.

The Dynamic Data Model chapter gives a detailed description of the mechanisms for dynamically extending the patient data model with new forms. Basically it allows the configurator to define a hierarchy of forms with the patient as root. Each form can be used to describe an aspect of or relating to the patient.

It is also possible for a configurator to define new reports for extracing any data registered on a patient or one of the dynamically defined forms related to the patient.

As part of the security model of the TOPICA framework, all events concerning patients are logged in transaction log.