Electronic Health Record Interoperability Across Clinical Support Modules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic health record systems lack interoperability between different support modules, requiring healthcare professionals to switch between modules to access and reference information, leading to inefficient and costly duplicate development and data siloing.

Innovation Solution

An electronic health record system with an interoperable database that centralizes data from various support modules, allowing seamless referencing and sharing of documents across modules, and enabling efficient configuration and sharing of electronic health records among medical and nursing care institutions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple support modules are used for different occupations, then functional versatility is improved, but data interoperability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional versatilityVSAvoiddata interoperability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple occupation-specific support modules into a unified electronic health record system where all modules share a common data space. This allows documents and data created in one module (e.g., nursing record) to be automatically accessible in other modules (e.g., doctor module) without manual transfer, resolving the interoperability issue while maintaining functional versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a universal data structure and communication protocol that enables the same support module framework to serve multiple occupations (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, etc.). Each occupation maintains its specialized functions while accessing a shared document repository, achieving both versatility and interoperability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If support modules are developed individually for each institution, then customization to local needs is improved, but development cost and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization to local needsVSAvoiddevelopment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the electronic health record functionality into independent, standardized support modules that can be selectively activated. Each module is designed with standard interfaces, allowing institutions to configure their system by selecting and combining only the modules they need, rather than developing or implementing complete custom systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes standardized data structures, communication protocols, and module interfaces in advance. This preliminary standardization enables rapid deployment and easy customization later, as institutions can simply configure pre-built modules rather than developing from scratch, significantly reducing development time while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If occupation-specific modules are used, then specialization for each profession is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespecialization for each professionVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a central document repository and standardized data exchange protocol as an intermediary between occupation-specific modules. This mediator enables automatic sharing of patient information across modules without requiring professionals to manually switch between systems or re-enter data, maintaining specialization while improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250356967A1Electronic health record system

Publication Date: 2025.11.20 INST OF MEDICAL INFORMATION TECH CO LTD

AI summary

Data interoperability is to be ensured when support modules in accordance with work procedures of each medical or nursing care institution and each occupation is developed, and electronic health record elements developed/corrected in a hospital are registered in an electronic health record element database, thereby enabling the electronic health record elements to be shared with other medical/nursing care institutions while backing up the electronic health record elements in the hospital. In an electronic health record system including a combination of support software (support modules) by occupation that supports creation of documents for each of a plurality of occupations in medical/nursing care, the electronic health record system enables documents created by the support modules to be referenced between any combination of the support modules.