Ohio, February 2008
Realworld Enterprise Healthcare Integration: HL7 and Beyond
A Case Study on Life Enriching Communities’ healthcare data integration solution through eTransX’ eTX HMIE Integration Engine
Background
In 2007, Life Enriching Communities, of Cincinnati, Ohio entered its 108th year of providing care for seniors and their families. They now offer two premier living communities, Twin Towers and Twin Lakes, with a total of 700 beds plus a growing adult day program.
In the many years of growth, informatics at LEC had evolved into three principle systems: ULTRACare (clinical data—each facility with an independent database), Advance Answers on Demand (accounting), and Horizon (POS in the dining hall). System integration was essentially manual.
Tom Jones, LEC’s Systems Analyst, said,
“Our biggest headache was redundant data entry. Demographics for each new resident had to be entered manually into at least 3 different systems. That meant increased opportunities for error and liability from data integrity issues. It also translated to about one hour of clerical time per resident.”
Mark E. Mountel, Manager of Information Technology & Business Solutions , added,
“We wanted to reduce the inherent risk associated with multiple data entry, as well as lost revenue opportunities produced by errant business practices, not only at point of care clinical systems, but in ancillary services like recreation, entertainment and food service.”
Solution
eTransX had a perfect solution: their flagship healthcare integration product, eTX HMIE, a standards-based, component-oriented Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) engine.
eTransX’ engineering team worked with LEC management and their legacy application vendors to identify connectivity mechanisms and message formats for each of the systems. eTX HMIE uses eTransX’ Health Level 7 (HL7) interface, augmented by file and database interfaces to seamlessly integrate data between the systems. The ULTRACare basic HL7 interface is used to collect the data initially. Then an automatically generated resident report triggers eTX HMIE to send the information to the Advance Answers on Demand and Horizon systems. Likewise, as more data is generated in the ULTRACare system, eTX HMIE sends it immediately to Advance Answers on Demand and/or Horizon, keeping all the systems in sync.
Benefits
For LEC, eTransX’ eTX HMIE translates into significant benefits. In new admissions processing alone, there is an estimated savings of 600 clerical man-hours per year. With the additional savings from the elimination of manual re-entry of clinical and POS data into the accounting system, plus eTX HMIE’s flexibility and scalability for future system additions and expansions, LEC is well-equipped for a bright future.
Mark:
“We investigated other popular HL7 integration solutions, but chose eTransX’ eTX HMIE system, not only for it’s clinical integration abilities, but because of its more holistic approach to address our immediate and potential integration needs, including administrative, financial, and clinical, with scalability and flexibility for the future.”
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Life Enriching Communities is recognized as a leader and innovator in the provision of care for seniors and their families, offering a constellation of services in a multi-level health system. Established as the Methodist Home for the Aged in 1899, LEC offers two premier senior living communities: Twin Towers and Twin Lakes at Montgomery, and an interactive adult day program: Adult Day Stay, providing life-enriching services and accommodations for senior adults through a caring, Christian community.
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