1. Integrating HealthLink with Practice Management Systems
Mark Melia,
School of Computing,
Dublin City University.
Pramod Pathak,
School of Informatics,
National College of Ireland.
Marie Lalor, Gemma Garvan, Orla Doogue, Aishling Raftery,
National HealthLink Project.
What I will be presenting today is an investigation into the integration of HealthLink with PMSs. This work was done a little over a year ago as part of my final year project in the NCI. The project was supervised by Dr. Pramod Pathak and was contributed by and directed by the HealthLink team which includes Marie Lalor, GG, OD.

2. Outline HealthLink Background Practice Management Systems
Current Integration Solution
Proposed Integration Solution
Conclusions/Findings
HealthLink Future b

3. HealthLink HealthLink – Messaging project
Used by GP to get Lab Results via Web
More Info -
HealthLink Introduction
National Electronic Messaging project, used to communicate clinical data between hospital departments and a patients GP

4. What Hospitals Use HealthLink?
Currently Participating:
Mater Misericordiae Hospital
Beaumont Hospital
St. James Hospital
Limerick Regional Hospital
St. Joseph’s Hospital in Nenagh
Ennis General Hospital
St. Vincent’s Hospital
Merlin Park Hospital, Galway
St. Michael’s Hospital.
Mullingar General Hospital
Tullamore Hospital
Portloaise Hospital
Connolly Hospital
Mayo General Hospital
Naas Hospital
Signed up:
AMNCH
Uni. College Hospital, Galway
Roscommon County Hospital
Loughlinstown Hospital
Temple St. Childrens’ Hospital

5. Practice Management System
Used by GPs to manage Practice
Used for:
General Admin
Finance
Patient Records

6. Current Integration Solution
GP Computer
System
PMS
Internet
Browser
HL7 File
How Health link works
HealthLink Server
HealthLink Server

7. Proposed Integration Solution
Deliver messages directly to GP PMS
Clinical data direct on PMS
Something like MS Outlook
Proposed Solution - Web Services
Benefits: Reduced GP workload

8. Prototype System Objective - Proof of Concept HL7 – Key enabler
Web Services
The Prototype Environment
SQL Server 2000 (simulate HealthLink Database)
Java Server (simulate HealthLink behaviour)
C# Client – using .NET Technology

9. Proposed Solution Architecture
GP Computer
System
PMS
Internet
Browser
HL7 File
HealthLink Server

10. Proposed Solution Architecture
GP Computer
System
PMS
Service
Interface
HealthLink Server

11. A Closer Look Digital PMS Cert. <SOAP:ENV> <HL7> …
HTTPS
User Authentication XML
Service
Interface
Apache Axis
HealthLink Server
Digital
Cert.

12. Result of Project
Proved that adoption of PMS could be updated direct from HealthLink with little work.
PMS Vendor
Call Service
Get HL7 from SOAP – integrate as normal
Path to adoption
Add Service Interface
Integrate security features
Get PMS Vendors on board

13. What about Implementation?
.NET server
GoLive – End of March
But what about the browser?
This will remain.

14. Thank you Questions? Contact: mark.melia@computing.dcu.ie