ENHANCED INTEGRATION SERVICES IN A MOBILE WORLD
By: Rob DeNault
In this era of mobility and wireless communication dominating all aspects of our lives, it’s
difficult to recall the days when communicating on a device requiring a hardwired telephone and
when newsworthy information was only available at 6PM and 11PM on a few television networks.
Although, in today’s world, information is now available 24/7 at home, work and while we are
traveling, searching for the correct information has become cumbersome. Consequently, the
integration of search engines into the search for information has assisted in delivering
requested information anytime and anywhere.
Similar to the need for search engines in our fast-paced and information hungry world,
healthcare organizations utilizing a wireless communication system are in a position to deliver
critical text messages, alerts and orders to wireless devices through carefully considered
integration with existing systems. These systems can greatly enhance patient safety and the work
environment for clinical staff. Such systems include:
- Automated interface monitoring with automated alerts which allow increased interface
uptime resulting in better patient care
- Automated notification of critical lab values which allow caregivers to take a more
timely course of action to address illnesses
- Enterprise operational improvements (workflows) driven by streamlined coordination of
work teams, and better resource utilization through the patient care process
- Mobile communication, which allows clinicians to spend more time at the patient bedside.
Integration with the HIS provides alerts to other departments, such as Bio Med, to provide
alerts of required medical device intervention
- HIS attention alerts, which can be sent to wireless device make for a quieter environment
by eliminating the need for overhead paging
As many of these systems will rely heavily upon the wireless environment, it is critical to
keep those environments properly sized, maintained, and up-to-date with existing best practices.
Whether using the WLAN for data, RFID, voice, or all three, the efficiencies can only be realized
with a properly designed wireless infrastructure that is based on current needs and planned with
careful consideration of the organization’s future initiatives. For those organizations
utilizing or considering a wireless communication system, integrating your clinical systems can
lead to greater patient care and clinician affinity.
At the core of any wireless communication system is the infrastructure over which it
traverses. Careful planning and design will allow for scalability with regard to data, voice and
RFID. Some areas of consideration when assessing or planning for a proper WLAN strategy include:
- Data rates
- Signal to noise ratio
- Access point placement
- Channelization
- Redundancy planning
- Security planning
- Authentication Methods (ACS, Fortress, other Radius, default from AP/Controller)
- Levels of Security (WPA/WPA2, PEAP, EAP-Fast, MAC Authentication, etc.)
- Future application planning
- Coverage areas
Voice system requirements and expectations need to be carefully considered prior to installing
any communication system. An end-to-end wired/wireless infrastructure assessment will help
identify deficiencies in the infrastructure which should be remediated prior to deploying the
wireless communication system.
Once the wired/wireless networks are identified as adequate for the integrated systems
deployment, it is critical to establish best practice based integration methods, so that any
amalgamation of systems provides appropriate levels of stability and scalability. While several
vendors provide out-of-the-box integration for their systems, many more do not. These systems
that do not provide ready-made interfaces may require significant customizations to achieve the
desired results. Therefore, it is imperative to have the appropriate expertise onboard to
accomplish these custom tasks.
Integration and its proper practice were aptly described very thoughtfully by a colleague some
time ago by the following 7 principals:
- Be Proactive: Rather than waiting for issues to arise, seeking them out and resolving
them leads to the goal of two disparate systems functioning as one.
- Begin with the end in mind: Have a clear vision of what your integration will look like
and how it will benefit the end user. Developing data specifications is imperative, but a
“personal vision statement” will lead to better results.
- Put First Things First: Separate and prioritize work tasks and goals realizing the
difference between urgent and important. Remember, analysis precedes specifications,
specifications precede code, code precedes testing.
- Think Win/Win: Many time “rules” or “guidelines” get in the way of seeking and
negotiating a win/win solution. View each issue as an opportunity to find the best
resolution.
- Seek first to Understand, Then to be Understood: When issues arise in a team
collaboration, refrain from becoming emotional, as this will likely lead to ineffective use
of time. A whiteboard session with all available information is optimal for positive
solutions.
- Synergize: The whole can be greater than the sum of its parts. Synergy occurs when two
people working together is more effective than their combined individual efforts. Problem
solving, decision making, and overall outcomes are stronger.
- Sharpen the Saw: Because our jobs require constant attention, we find ourselves working
long hours without recharging our batteries or our skills. Our best work is accomplished
when we are well rested and have had the training required to remain current with the latest
technologies and the benefits they provide.
In conclusion, it is crucial to have a vision of what is expected when the project is
completed. Through proper assessment, planning and implementation, healthcare organizations
can realize reduced patient wait time, improved throughput, and higher patient satisfaction.
If you would like more information on this topic and the services that VCS has to offer,
please contact us at 610-444-1233 or vcs@getvitalized.com.
We are also always available on our website www.getvitalized.com.