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Modern healthcare relies on a wide variety of IT systems. It is not uncommon for there to be hundreds of different IT systems in use within just one hospital. In providing good care for the patient, IT systems such as electronic patient records and laboratory information systems (LIS) play a key role. It is typical that many of the systems involved in patient care need access to the same patient data. Therefore, the healthcare IT industry has actively developed means to easily integrate the systems with each other.
A US-originating standard, HL7, has been widely adopted as a key building block for IT system integration in healthcare. It seeks to define the messaging standards used in inter-system communication. The goal has been to minimize system-specific adaptations, and rule out misinterpretation of data - which could possibly lead to fatal consequences for the patient. One of the most common uses of HL7 is the exchange of laboratory requests and results, both within the hospital and in a larger, regional or even national context.
Software Point has further developed its WSP Connect product to include a specific HL7 module. It enables rapid and efficient system integrations between Software Point’s product for clinical laboratories, the C5 LIMS and other IT systems in the branch. The WSP Connect HL7 product has already been delivered to several hospitals in the Nordics. Finland is a country which has been especially keen in adopting HL7 for system interoperability.
For further information about HL7 and healthcare system interoperability in general, see http://www.hl7.org/
Software Point is a member of the international HL7 association.
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