COMPACT CUSTOMISABLE INFORMATION SYSTEMS and an INFORMATION EXCHANGE

Brief Description:

The Laboratory has conducted research into developing information systems that are compact and also customisable to their owners needs suitable for use in autonomous organisational units. These systems enable users to specify their own interfaces which can be altered at any time into a new version. Patient data is stored in a systematic way that allows it to be readily translated into structured messages for transmission to other systems. The data dictionary of the system has to use a formal terminology such as SNOMED CT, ICD, etc. Any informal terminology or dialect of the users used in the user interface has to be mapped to the formal terminology. Multiple systems can be readily connected for data sharing and exchange as they have their local or personalised terminology mapped to a formal terminology. This type of highly flexible and adaptable system will be most useful in diverse health applications as might be found in areas like Allied Health, and even be created for single roles such as a nutritionist or physiotherapist. This technology also has patient tracking though workflow processes as described in Patient Tracking Project.

This technology can be set up for individual information systems but it can also have a much richer function as an information exchange system where each department can be connected to it and gain access to any other clinical information system in the hospital through its access capabilities.  This system would not replace any currently operational system but would allow all other users through their own local interface to access the other systems. This could become the basis of any specialised information system not currently in place e.g. a Nursing IS, but also it would act as the host for locally customised ward rounds and handover systems.

Creating the full exchange system could be done incrementally by first proposing one or two systems be set up for Ward Rounds and/or Handovers or even data rescue and then gradually new systems added to the information exchange as each system is bedded down. Note that this is not a proposal to use a message passing protocol like HL7 between systems but rather have a central exchange through which requests for information are passed and the exchange system directly addresses the host information for the information that is requested.  The service delivery power of the exchange would be increased as it was given increasing roles to store copies of the primary records held in the connected systems.

Project Aim:

 The aim of this project is to create an Information Exchange system so that all data across all hospital information systems can be exchanged and analysed by CDAL technology. Concomitantly individual systems for autonomous organisational units or individual staff can be built using the same technology.

Project Objectives:

• 1. to provide clinical staff and administrative analysts ready access to all data across the AHS.
• 2. To enable idiosyncratic information systems to be created for people with special roles within the organisation while at the same retaining full cross system compatibility.

Brief Project Methodology:

The methodology is:

1. Identify the clinical information systems that provide the greatest benefit by sharing their data.

2. Identify the data on these systems that are needed by other parties.

3. Design interfaces that are needed for extracting the desired data.

4. Implement the interfaces and the access mechanisms to retrieve the wanted data.

5. Map all the terminology in the CISs into SNOMED CT.

6. Provide an application for viewing patient record data.

7. Provide CDAL for appropriate users.

8. Test the system with trusted staff and develop methods for operationalising the system.

9. Train all staff to use the system.

How will this Project Improve Patient Care:

This project will improve patient care by:

Ensuring records of patients are available in real-time from all connected locations in the AHS.

Provide a means of performing research on a large number of records that can produce lessons to support evidence based care practices.

Providing long-term statistics can help in better planning for patient care.

Providing a picture of the complete patient journey according to the patient record.

Providing logistical information for crisis management.