Bi-directional Interface System for Secure Health Data Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current exchange of personal health information (PHI) between caregivers in healthcare settings is sub-optimal due to reliance on paper-based 'brains' and individual memory, leading to potential medical errors and inefficiencies, especially during patient handoffs, where information is often missed, omitted, or erroneous.
Innovation Solution
A bi-directional interface system that allows seamless exchange of PHI between mobile devices and electronic health record (EHR) systems without storing PHI on the mobile device, providing a standardized and secure display of patient information, accessible on various devices, to reduce reliance on paper notes and individual memory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If paper-based 'brains' and individual memory are used for information exchange during patient handoffs, then portability and accessibility are improved, but information accuracy and completeness deteriorate due to omitted, missed, or erroneous communication
Solution Approach 1:
A centralized server acts as an intermediary between the mobile device and the EHR system, enabling secure access to patient information without storing PHI on the mobile device. The server mediates the exchange of information, ensuring accuracy and completeness while maintaining portability through the mobile interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a temporary visual copy of patient information from the EHR system on the mobile device screen without permanently storing the data. This allows caregivers to access and view complete, accurate patient records portably, while the original authoritative copy remains in the EHR system.
2Loss of time
If PHI is stored on mobile devices for easy access during patient care, then accessibility and timeliness are improved, but security and privacy protection deteriorate due to potential breaches
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized server serves as a secure intermediary that authenticates users and controls access to PHI. Instead of storing sensitive data on mobile devices, the server mediates all data requests, providing timely access to authorized caregivers while maintaining centralized security controls and audit trails.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical approach of physically storing data on mobile devices with an electronic access model through a secure web interface. PHI remains in the secure EHR system environment while mobile devices provide timely access through authenticated connections, eliminating the security risks of local storage.
3Reliability
If standardized information exchange is implemented through a centralized system, then information accuracy and completeness are improved, but device complexity and system infrastructure requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized server provides a universal interface that works across multiple mobile devices and integrates with existing EHR systems. Rather than requiring complex custom solutions at each location, the single server infrastructure serves multiple functions: authentication, data retrieval, and secure communication, simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages existing infrastructure components (mobile devices with web browsers, existing EHR systems) that already possess the necessary capabilities. The mobile application itself is relatively simple, relying on the robustness of established EHR systems and standard web technologies rather than requiring complex custom-built solutions.
4Ease of operation
If verbal communication and paper notes are used during patient handoffs, then ease of operation is maintained, but information exchange efficiency and accuracy deteriorate due to frequent interruptions and high noise levels
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces verbal communication and paper-based methods with an electronic interface on mobile devices. Caregivers can access complete patient records, handoff notes, and care plans directly on their devices, eliminating the need for verbal description and handwritten notes while maintaining operational simplicity through intuitive mobile interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile application displays copied information from the EHR system including patient demographics, current conditions, medication lists, and handoff notes. This visual copy of the official record ensures complete and accurate information transfer during handoffs, replacing error-prone verbal communication while maintaining ease of access.
Data Source
AI summary
A bi-directional interface system that facilitates exchange of personal health information (“PHI”) between a mobile device and an electronic health record (“EHR”) system and/or other ancillary systems without storing information on the mobile device. The system may display data that exists in the EHR and/or other ancillary systems valuably viewed at a glance (e.g., vital signs, weight, last void data), as well as facilitate data entry that would feed into the EHR (e.g., vital signs and intake and output). The system may customize at a unit level and/or professional role the information available to health care professionals at the critical time of handoffs and reduce the health care professional's individual need to rely on memory or handwritten notes, further reducing missed information or erroneous information opportunities. The system may provide a mobile application to view and enter patient data to reduce potentially delayed information and treatments of care.