The rapidly growing technology sector uptake in well-established tech companies and startups are focusing on healthcare technology. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have switched our focus back to the healthcare system. As the new modern medical products flood the healthcare space, it is crucial to revisit the basics of clubbing with EHR systems. Various healthcare facilities are operating at maximum capacity and facing huge challenges such as supply shortages, staffing needs, and patient overflow.
In this article, we’re going to discuss the major things developers in the healthcare domain need to consider. So, without any further delay, let’s get started!
Define the data type to export
Developers should make sure that they are identifying the medical-device data within an HL7 standard or as a PDF report created by the medical-device system. Exporting data includes specific data points with the HL7 file which can be later provided via OBX segments in the same file. PDF integrations are simple and easy to implement because there are only a few methods to set up the interface and the HL7 standard doesn’t allow embedding binary files to be encoded.
Follow the HL7 standards
It is essential to follow the HL7 standards to be evident to most folks in the healthcare IT field who are new to the industry. Make sure that the medical-device data is exported following the HL7 standards to replicate EHR integration across the various vendors easily.
Find out matching for provider and patient
All your patient information is populated in the PID segment and the EHP system uses any combination of patient record numbers such as first name, last name, date of birth, and other related information to match patients coming from your system. However, if the patient record number is unavailable, EHP systems will do matching based on a combination of other available fields.
Choose between unidirectional and bidirectional interfaces
While creating a healthcare domain, make sure to choose wisely between unidirectional and bidirectional interfaces. If we compare both these interfaces, the bidirectional interface utilizes two-way communication for sending and receiving data. Whereas a unidirectional interface is the one in which medical data is being delivered to the product. However, choosing a bidirectional interface is the right decision for greater insight into the full workflow.
Choose between automatic export vs. manual export
Lastly, make sure to identify which export system you require between automatic export and manual export. To identify the function you want to serve your system once the EHR integration is complete, and then determine whether you want your EHP exports to be done automatically or manually. Automatic exporting to the EHR system becomes available without physician intervention.
Conclusion
New tech developers currently working in the healthcare space need to think about these ideas and develop their products instead of making this the last step in the development process. Developers should be aware of their product requirements and consider this at the initial stage to create a product that is a natural extension of a provider’s workflow.
