Workflow compatible healthcare information message communication system

• US 20050066002A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Teres, Arnold, DelMonego, Brian
• Application Number:
  US10/903,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20050066002A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for providing a single portable and consistent non-proprietary interface between proprietary systems that are required to be integrated to facilitate workflow integration (i.e., the communication of data and messaging). The system includes a communication processor that receives a message from a first information system in a first data format and identifies the type of message received. The communication processor selects a particular message data format and a message destination from a plurality of message destinations based on the identified message type and the source of the received message. The communication processor converts the received message from the first data format to a different, i.e., second, data format to be communicated, via a communication interface, to a destination information system. The communication processor communicates the converted data in the different, i.e., second, data format to a destination information system. The system of the invention further includes a repository of information identifying a plurality of different message data formats associated with a corresponding plurality of different healthcare information system communication interfaces and wherein the communication processor selects the particular message data format and the destination, using the repository.

Claims

1. A system supporting message communication between healthcare information systems employing different communication message data formats, comprising:

a communication processor for,

receiving a message from a first information system in a first data format,

identifying a type of said received message,

selecting a particular message data format and a message destination from a plurality of message destinations based on said determined type and based on a source of said received message,

converting data in said received message in said first data format to a different second data format for communication via a communication interface to a destination information system, and

communicating said converted data in said different second data format to said destination information system.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said communication processor includes a common integration layer.

3. A system according to claim 1, including

a repository of information identifying a plurality of different message data formats associated with a corresponding plurality of different healthcare information system communication interfaces and wherein

said communication processor selects said particular message data format and said destination, using said repository.

4. A system according to claim 3, including

said communication processor selects a plurality of message data formats compatible with a corresponding plurality of different destination information systems and converts data in said received message in said first data format to a plurality of different data formats compatible with said plurality of different destination information systems and communicates said converted data in said different data formats to said plurality of different destination information systems.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said communication processor selects said message destination from a plurality of message destinations in response to predetermined information identifying a workflow task sequence indicating a particular task and associated destination for at least one of, (a) said message type and (b) said message source.

6. A system supporting message communication between healthcare information systems employing different communication message data formats, comprising:

a communication processor for,

receiving a message via a first information system communication interface in a first data format,

identifying a type of said received message,

selecting a particular message data format and a message destination information system communication interface based on said determined type,

converting data in said received message in said first data format to a different second data format for communication via said destination information system communication interface, and

communicating said converted data in said different second data format to said destination information system.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said communication processor includes a common integration layer.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein

said communication processor selects a plurality of message communication interfaces of a plurality of destination information systems, based on said determined type, converts said data in said received message to different data formats for communication via said plurality of destination information system communication interfaces, and communicates said converted data in said different data formats to said destination information systems.

9. A system according to claim 6, wherein

said message type comprises at least one of, (a) a command type, (b) a data type, (c) a message data format type, (d) a message source and (e) a message destination.

10. A system according to claim 6, including

a healthcare information system simulator for receiving and processing said converted data in said different second data format and for providing a response indicative of whether said converted data is compatible with a healthcare information system.

11. A system according to claim 10, including

a command processor responsive to at least one of, (a) predetermined stored instruction and (b) user command, for initiating a test of said communication processor and performing a sequence of operations using said simulator.

12. A system according to claim 6, including

a healthcare information system simulator including at least one of, (a) said information repository and (b) said communication processor.

13. A system according to claim 6, including

a repository of information identifying a plurality of different message data formats associated with a corresponding plurality of different healthcare information system communication interfaces and wherein

said communication processor selects said particular message data format and said message destination information system communication interface based on said determined type, using said repository.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein

said information repository contains information identifying a plurality of different communication channels supporting communication between executable applications operating on different healthcare information systems.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein

said plurality of different communication channels comprise Microsoft compatible named channels.

16. A system according to claim 6, wherein

a healthcare information system is at least one of, (a) a Radiology Information System (RIS), (b) a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) and (c) a dictation system.

17. A system supporting message communication between healthcare information systems employing different communication message data formats, comprising:

a repository of information identifying a plurality of different message data formats associated with a corresponding plurality of different healthcare information system communication interfaces; and

a communication processor for,

receiving a message via a first information system communication interface in a first data format,

identifying a type of said received message,

selecting a particular message data format and a message destination information system communication interface based on said determined type,

converting data in said received message in said first data format to a different second data format for communication via said destination information system communication interface, and

communicating said converted data in said different second data format to said destination information system.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein said communication processor includes a common integration layer.

19. A system supporting message communication between healthcare information systems employing different communication message data formats, comprising:

a communication processor for,

receiving a message from a first information system in a first data format,

identifying a type of said received message,

selecting a particular message data format and a message destination from a plurality of message destinations based on said determined type and based on a source of said received message,

converting data in said received message in said first data format to a different second data format; and

a healthcare information system simulator for receiving and processing said converted data in said different second data format and for providing a response indicative of whether said converted data is compatible with a particular healthcare information system.

20. A system according to claim 19, including

a command processor responsive to at least one of, (a) predetermined stored instruction and (b) user command, for initiating a test of said communication processor and performing a sequence of operations using said simulator.

21. A method for providing message communication between healthcare information systems employing different communication message data formats, comprising the activities of:

receiving a message from a first information system in a first data format;

identifying a type of said received message;

selecting a particular message data format and a message destination from a plurality of message destinations based on said determined type and based on a source of said received message;

converting data in said received message in said first data format to a different second data format for communication via a communication interface to a destination information system; and

communicating said converted data in said different second data format to said destination information system.

22. A method for providing message communication between healthcare information systems employing different communication message data formats, comprising the activities of:

receiving a message from a first information system in a first data format;

identifying a type of said received message;

selecting a particular message data format and a message destination from a plurality of message destinations based on said determined type and based on a source of said received message;

converting data in said received message in said first data format to a different second data format; and

simulating a healthcare information system response by receiving and processing said converted data in said different second data format to provide a response indicative of whether said converted data is compatible with a particular healthcare information system.

23. A method for providing message communication between healthcare information systems employing different communication message data formats, comprising the activities of:

receiving a message via a first information system communication interface in a first data format;

identifying a type of said received message;

selecting a particular message data format and a message destination information system communication interface based on said determined type;

converting data in said received message in said first data format to a different second data format for communication via said destination information system communication interface; and

communicating said converted data in said different second data format to said destination information system.