HL7 Update

HL7 projects continue among TA client hospitals, allowing facilities to maximize their software dollars by sharing information from different applications and improving automation. Both HL7 Inbound and Outbound involve using standardized segments to transmit data, enabling the multitude of healthcare software products to "speak the same language." For instance, current HL7 Inbound interfaces with Meditech hospitals import patient ADT into TA transcription templates at various TA sites. Other active Inbound HL7 applications include importing patient ADT information or even completed transcriptions into TA document management from systems such as DHT’s CoPath, IDX, Keane, Kurzweil, McKesson STAR and Siemens.

In the HL7 Outbound world, Arrendale has recently completed interfaces to the Eclipsys Record Manager System for optical storage. At Covenant Healthcare in Saginaw, MI, the TA HL7 Outbound to Eclipsys is part of a larger optical storage project according to Jan Rousseau, Decision Support Information Systems. After Covenant’s live date (February 2002) transcriptions from TA, lab results, ADT and scanned documents will reside in their new Record Manager Eclipsys system. "This will go a long way towards eliminating the current microfilm archiving system and replacing it with a much faster, user-friendly, on-line system" comments Jan.

At Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, TX, Becky Allsop, Director of Information Systems, summarizes a TA HL7 application that involves both Inbound and Outbound movement. Per Becky, "After the radiologist picks or is given an image to interpret, he begins his dictation using TalkStation by Talk Technology. The report is then digitally signed and sent via HL7 (Inbound) to our Interface Engine, Cloverleaf. Cloverleaf then sends HL7 (Outbound) transactions to Arrendale and PACS. Arrendale does the distribution of printed and faxed reports. Because we were already using an HL7 interface from Arrendale to Care Innovation by 3M, for Medical Records transcription, we use Arrendale to send the Radiology reports via HL7 to Care Innovation. The implementation of PACS, TalkStation and the interfaces to Arrendale has dramatically reduced the turnaround time on signed and digitally available radiology reports. Literally as soon as the Radiologist has dictated the report, it is available in all systems for viewing, printing, and faxing."

The experience and teamwork approach of AAI’s HL7 team enables TA and A+Network clients to maximize their TA investment. If this has inspired a possible HL7 project at your facility, call or e-mail Nancy Fritz (877 452-5700 or nancyf@aaita.com) at AAI to request an HL7 project quote or technical specs. AAI’s HL7 specifications are available via e-mail to our customers interested in getting more out of or into TA.