Medication Configuration Synchronization via Intermediary Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ancillary medication management systems in healthcare facilities face challenges in synchronizing medication configuration information with centralized systems, as they often do not implement changes made in the centralized pharmacy information system, and there is a need for a flexible and customizable method to manage these changes effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for synchronizing medication configuration information between a primary and ancillary medication configuration computer, involving the receipt of change information, filtering using predefined rules, and a repository for administrators to review and implement changes, ensuring only relevant information is integrated into the ancillary system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If medication configuration information is automatically synchronized from centralized system to ancillary systems, then information consistency is improved, but system complexity and loss of local control increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a synchronization agent as an intermediary component that resides in both the centralized system and ancillary systems. This agent mediates the synchronization process by intercepting configuration changes, packaging them with metadata (change ID, timestamp, type), and managing the transfer. The intermediary approach maintains information consistency while keeping the synchronization mechanism modular and manageable, preventing excessive system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing configuration changes at the source before they propagate to ancillary systems. The synchronization agent in the centralized system detects changes, creates standardized change packets with all necessary information (change ID, timestamp, type), and queues them for transmission. This preliminary packaging and metadata addition simplifies the subsequent synchronization process at ancillary systems, as they only need to process pre-formatted change packets rather than analyzing raw configuration data.
2Loss of information
If all medication configuration changes are transmitted to ancillary systems, then information completeness is improved, but data processing overhead and synchronization time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential elements of configuration changes for transmission to ancillary systems. Instead of transmitting entire configuration datasets, the synchronization agent extracts and transmits only the change-specific information (change ID, timestamp, change type, and affected configuration parameters). This extraction approach ensures information completeness regarding changes while minimizing data volume and processing overhead at ancillary systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial synchronization by transmitting only the portions of configuration data that have actually changed, rather than synchronizing entire configuration sets. The change packets contain only modified parameters along with metadata, allowing ancillary systems to apply minimal updates rather than full configuration reloads. This partial action approach maintains information completeness for changes while significantly reducing synchronization time and processing overhead.
3Productivity
If ancillary systems automatically implement all received changes, then synchronization speed is improved, but flexibility and ability to filter irrelevant changes are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic change implementation at ancillary systems through the local synchronization agent. The agent receives change packets and dynamically determines whether to implement each change based on local configuration settings, system state, and change characteristics. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain fast automated synchronization for applicable changes while providing flexibility to filter, delay, or modify changes that are not relevant to specific ancillary systems, thus preserving both speed and adaptability.
4Measurement precision
If change tracking and review mechanisms are implemented, then change accuracy and control are improved, but processing time and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through change ID tracking and status reporting. Each configuration change is assigned a unique change ID that is tracked through the synchronization process. The synchronization agents provide feedback by reporting the status of change transmission and implementation (pending, transmitted, applied, rejected). This feedback system ensures accurate change tracking and auditability while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized status codes and automated tracking, rather than requiring complex manual review processes.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and system for synchronizing medication configuration information. A primary medication configuration computer is adapted to receive medication configuration content from a medication configuration content source. The primary medication configuration computer is also adapted to generate medication configuration change information and transmit the medication configuration change information to an ancillary medication configuration computer, adapted to receive the medication configuration change information from the primary medication configuration computer. The ancillary medication configuration computer is also adapted to filter the medication configuration change information by applying a filtering rule to generate filtered medication configuration change information. The ancillary medication configuration computer is further adapted to store the filtered medication configuration change information in a repository and transmit at least a portion of the filtered medication configuration change information to a management client computer.