Automated HL7 Integration Platform for Healthcare Data Exchange

Solution Overview

Problem

Current healthcare information exchange systems require manual configuration and customization of generic software applications for specific trading partners, which is time-consuming and expensive, and lack automated solutions for efficient data exchange compliant with standards like HL7.

Innovation Solution

An automated software development system that provides a web-based graphical user interface for modeling integration processes, generating customized software applications, and configuring connectors and data profiles to facilitate seamless data exchange between healthcare providers, using a dynamic runtime engine that automatically updates and integrates with existing systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual configuration and customization of generic software applications is used for specific trading partners, then compliance with healthcare standards can be achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompliance with healthcare standardsVSAvoidconfiguration time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures software applications with standard healthcare protocols and trading partner templates before deployment. Integration process models, data profiles, and connector configurations are prepared in advance based on common healthcare standards (HL7, EDI, FHIR), eliminating the need for manual configuration during implementation and significantly reducing deployment time while maintaining compliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses templates and models that can be copied and reused across multiple trading partners. Once an integration process model is created for one partner, it can be replicated and customized for others, reducing repetitive configuration work. The system stores reusable configuration artifacts that can be instantiated multiple times with minimal modification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If manual configuration and customization of generic software applications is used for specific trading partners, then compliance with healthcare standards can be achieved, but the process becomes expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompliance with healthcare standardsVSAvoidimplementation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses templates and models that can be copied and reused across multiple trading partners. Once an integration process model is created for one partner, it can be replicated and customized for others, reducing repetitive configuration work. The system stores reusable configuration artifacts that can be instantiated multiple times with minimal modification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a universal integration platform that handles multiple healthcare standards (HL7, EDI, FHIR) and trading partner types through a single configurable framework. The visual modeling environment and connector architecture provide universal functionality that adapts to different requirements without requiring separate custom developments, reducing overall implementation costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If automated software development system is used to generate customized software applications, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware generation speedVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a visual integration process model as an intermediary layer between the user and the complex software generation process. Users configure integrations through graphical modeling with drag-and-drop components rather than direct code manipulation. The system automatically translates these visual models into customized software applications, shielding users from complexity while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The software development system is segmented into modular components including visual modelers for different message types (HL7, EDI, FHIR), separate connector templates for various trading partners, and independent data profile configurations. This modular architecture allows the system to manage complexity by breaking down the integration process into manageable, independently configurable segments that can be assembled automatically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8938711B2Healthcare service integration software development system and method therefor

Publication Date: 2015.01.20 BOOMI

AI summary

A method includes providing a graphical user interface to an automated software development system, and providing a customized software application to an enterprise. The application comprises a collection of codesets that together are configured to perform an integration process. The system provides a configuration dialog interface for soliciting, from a user, information indicating a Health Level Seven (HL7) version and an HL7 message type. The system determines an HL7 electronic data interchange document profile defining a document schema and a set of data elements included at an HL7 message document corresponding to the HL7 version and the HL7 message type. The system generates a profile codeset based on the HL7 document profile. The system provides the customized software application for installation at an enterprise, the application comprising a collection of codesets including the profile codeset.