Reasons to Upgrade the NextGen Connect Database

Your integration engine is the operations data exchange hub of your facility. Adopting measures to maximize its efficiency and reliability are essential to safeguard the flow of data to your mission-critical applications, and as an indirect consequence, enhance patient safety. One of these measures is the selection of a database management system for use by the integration engine. An integration engine consists mainly of two components: 1) the engine itself and 2) a storage component. This storage component is usually in the form of a database management system. The election of a database management system can make or break the operational efficiency and reliability of these critical dataflows. It is for these reasons we recommend considering a NextGen Connect database upgrade and offer a few things to consider while making that decision.

Reasons to Consider the Switch

While the NextGen Connect (formerly Mirth Connect) integration engine includes the open-source Java-based Apache Derby relational database as part of its small system footprint, Apache Derby is still recommended primarily for use in testing environments and very limited use in production environments, especially where the message data is not stored.

There are several good reasons to consider the switch to other relational database management systems which include: 1) more robust database management systems like Microsoft SQL Server, mySQL, Oracle and PostGreSQL, 2) compatibility with enterprise database backup applications and 3) powerful database management tools like Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio, NaviCat and PgAdmin.

The Benefits of More Robust Database Management Systems

Examples include: Microsoft SQL Server, mySQL, Oracle and PostGreSQL. These relational database management applications have established track records for being the backbone of enterprise data. They are known for their reliability, speed, efficiency, versatility, and control of database size growth; all of these traits are critical to the high transaction environments in which integration engines are employed.

Compatibility with Enterprise Database Backup Applications

Enterprise database backup applications are designed to create incremental or single snapshot backups of data stored in these systems. A well-run information technology operation includes scheduled datastore backups as part of daily operations. There are software solutions offered by the database management system manufacturer or by third-party vendors that address this need. Having a database management system that can readily integrate with these enterprise backup solutions can make the job of safeguarding stored data much easier and more cost-effective.

Powerful Database Management Utilities

These utilities provide a user interface that allows database administrators to manage and control how data is handled by the database management system. While there are several database front-end client tools available for Apache Derby, there is a greater number of applications offered by the database manufacturers and third-party vendors offering more comprehensive features. For example: Workbench and NaviCat for MySQL, Management Studio for Microsoft SQL Server, and PgAdmin for PostGreSQL provide graphical user interface tools that allow users to access and manage the data contained within these databases. Most of these examples have been regarded as industry-standard tools for decades.

The good news is not only does NextGen Connect support MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle and PostGreSQL, but it is also extremely easy to migrate to other database management systems at any time, even after Nextgen Connect installation. With some basic planning (and practice on a virtual machine to ensure success), migration to a new database system can be safe, easy, and worry-free.

Pedro Jimenez, The HCI Solution’s Director of Interface Engine Services, explains the planning and execution of the database switching process in a step-by-step video titled Upgrading the Database in Mirth®/ NextGen®Connect which is part of the “Interface Engine How-To Series” multi-part video training series. You can watch this fourth installment by clicking here.

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7 Ways to Limit the Work From Home Struggle

During these difficult times we have seen a rise in traditional office goers working from home in an effort to “flatten the curve”. Working from home can be challenging, especially in an uncontrolled environment that may include stir-crazy kids, significant others, and/or pets that aren’t used to you being home 24/7. Working remotely takes great discipline and organization to be successful and productive, but it is achievable. The HCI Solution was ahead of the working from home trend with 100% remote employees from the start of our incorporation. Because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, working remotely has quickly become the “new normal” so we felt inspired to offer these 7 ways to limit the work from home struggle.

1) Designate your office space

If you don’t have an office try to designate a quiet area with minimal distractions and traffic as your “office”. Communicate to other members of your household that this is where you’ll be working and to try and avoid that area if possible.

2) Keep regular working hours

Yes you are working from home, and working from home offers more flexibility in many ways. However, sticking to a daily schedule and setting normal work hours not only helps you but also your family. If they know you are working 8-4 or 9-5 then they know when to expect you. This way you also know you’re putting in the hours your workplace requires.

3) Set rules and boundaries

Once you have your office space and hours established make sure to communicate your plan to the other members of your household and set necessary boundaries. Explain to them that noise should be limited in that area during those times.

4) Stick to a daily routine

Obviously, parts of your daily routine have changed if you’ve transitioned from office to home. However, sticking to a routine as close to your normal routine as possible will help, especially if/when the time comes to head back into the office. Whether you start your day with coffee, a shower, whatever it may be; continue to start your days the same way as before. You might use what would normally be your drive time to do things around the house so you aren’t distracted during the day or offer that time to your family and/or pets so they are less likely to interrupt while you are working.

5) Stretch regularly throughout your day

Even if you normally work a desk job, when working from home you are less active than you would be if you were going into the office. Try to stretch periodically throughout the day to invigorate and refocus while also preventing soreness from sitting too long.

6) Invest in your technology and know how to use it

You may not have much say in the equipment that is provided to you but one item we highly recommend investing in is a quality headset. One that limits background noise and has a muting option. We use phone conferencing with screen share and having high quality head sets helps tremendously. Also, make sure you familiarize yourself with the technology you’re using. Prepare for meetings early and make sure everything is functioning properly and that you know how to use the tools at your disposal.

7) Keep it clean

Last but certainly not least, keep it clean! Good hygiene is about more than just who sees or smells you, it’s about being healthy and just feeling better all around. Also, keep your workspace clean and clutter free. Organization is key to working from home and if you have a cluttered desk it can be a major distraction.

We’ve all had the worries of noisy family in the background and distractions while working remotely. These things are going to happen at times. No one knows exactly what the future holds, but if we had to guess, remote jobs are only going to increase in popularity and we truly believe by following the 7 tips provided, you too can be successful in a work from home environment.

To learn about The HCI Solution CLICK HERE


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The Three A’s of Selecting a Downtime Solution

In all different downtime scenarios, time and money, as well as staff and patient safety can be easily compromised. In today’s world, efficiency and accuracy are of upmost importance when it comes to medical care. Planned downtimes take a lot of time and preparation to continue running day to day operations safely and smoothly. Unplanned downtimes can leave you debilitated and vulnerable without a solution in place. Downtime Solutions are key to keeping businesses up and running without compromising productivity and safety. There are many different downtime solutions to consider, but how does one decide which of these to adopt? We recommend considering the three A’s when selecting a downtime solution: Availability, Adaptability, and Accountability.

The three A’s to consider when selecting a Downtime Solution:

1) Availability: The most common HCIS downtimes are planned.  However, most downtime solutions are designed for planned and unplanned HCIS downtimes.  What’s commonly overlooked when selecting a downtime solution is whether or not it addresses technical planned or unplanned downtimes.  Technical downtimes are the nightmare CIO’s and IT personnel may encounter in their professional life.  Though extremely rare, addressing technical downtime is a must when considering different downtime solutions.  Technical downtimes happen when you lose your internal network to specific locations or even facility wide.  Downtime solutions need to address this with either local “stand-alone” downtime PC’s and/or cellular cloud solutions.  Selecting a solution that meets all downtime possibilities will keep your user’s ready for patient care and keep senior management from asking why you weren’t ready.

2) Adaptability: Think about using a software solution 3-5 times per year.  How familiar is that software going to be to you?  Downtime solutions are used so infrequently the typical user will have limited memory of its usage within 3 weeks.  Having worked with downtime solutions for over 20 years, the most common complaint is familiarity.  The key factor in a downtime solution’s successful adaptability is ease of use and familiarity.  If a downtime solution is easily accessible during HCIS or technical downtimes, and looks and functions like your uptime solution, your adaptability could be 100%.

3) Accountability: With the goal of ease of use for your downtime solution you don’t want to sacrifice usage tracking abilities.  When we talk about a HCIS downtime it’s not typically a problem with tracking user access since most will use HCIS or AD credentials to log on.  But what about technical downtimes when HCIS or AD isn’t available?  It’s important to make sure your downtime solutions have comprehensive audits to track patient content access during all types of downtime.

We at The HCI Solution trust that if you select a downtime solution using the three A’s outlined, you can continue to run operations smoothly without compromising the high standard of care everyone expects and strives for. The HCI Solution’s answer to this problem is the ContinuITy™ Downtime Portal.  Continuity Downtime Portal was created in a hospital with their needs in mind.  We encourage you to explore and utilize the resources we have provided below. Don’t allow your workflow to be negatively impacted by any kind of downtime, be prepared and be safe.

To learn about The HCI Solution’s ContinuITy™ Downtime Portal CLICK HERE

CONTACT US to set up a free demo at a time convenient for you.

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Manage Reporting Workflow with DefinITy

In my previous post regarding MPI consolidation, we observed how a conversion/upgrade effort, though an intensive undertaking, presents many opportunities to improve our organization and workflow. One of these opportunities is how we can improve our data governance, specifically the process of evaluating and planning our reporting needs. This is most apparent during a platform change, and that will be the use case I’ll be focusing on, but the same considerations can be applied whether we are in the process of upgrading our HCIS or during the maintenance cycle.

Reporting is central to our day-to-day operations and long-term planning, and over time we accrue hundreds of essential reports, distributed throughout our HCIS and depended on by our multi-disciplined user base. When planning for an upgrade, many of these reports will need to be rewritten in light of enhanced functionality and changes present in the new system. In 2018, our development partner Halifax Health completed their upgrade from MEDITECH Client Server to MEDITECH Expanse. Planning for this upgrade, Halifax needed a way to evaluate the full scope of their accumulated reports and effectively determine the best way to consume the report governance elephant.

We begin by answering a series of questions, based on our particular upgrade effort. Such as: Exactly how many reports do we currently have? How can this number be reduced? Out of these reports, we want to determine relevance, and if relevant, then priority and upgrade requirements. What type of report is it, i.e. NPR Report Writer or Data Repository? Is the application the report references changing platforms (NPR to M-AT)? Does the latest MEDITECH version provide standard functionality that makes the report obsolete? Once these questions have been answered, we can begin to delegate the individual reports to internal or external resources that will be responsible for rebuilding and testing the reports in the new MEDITECH platform.

DefinITy is our report tracking and governance solution that was born out of Halifax Health’s planning and analysis effort. DefinITy facilitates the upgrade process by providing a means to easily track and manage the steps from report discovery and analysis through testing and finalizing the new report version. Existing report metadata and usage criteria are loaded into the DefinITy database, and then assigned an owner, i.e. the user responsible for determining the relevance of the report. Report owners can then manage their list of reports, by canceling reports no longer needed, or confirming the request for an upgrade of the report, adding any additional details or requirements. Requested reports are then assigned to a resource for tracking the completion of the new version of the report.

Sound planning and consideration ensure that we make the most of the opportunities presented to us during an upgrade effort. Using a tool to manage and track the report update process in phases, allows us to focus on the upgrade as a whole while delegating out the details to the correct resources. To assist sites with this process, The HCI Solution offers a complementary report analysis, providing a high-level overview of a site’s current reporting footprint and usage, and highlighting those reports that will be impacted by platform upgrades. We also offer a full suite of Data Services, in the event that you are looking for external resources to assist with your reporting needs, regardless of your MEDITECH version.

Please feel free to check out our no-obligation Request a Quote Form

To learn more about The HCI Solution’s DefinITy  CLICK HERE.

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Why SyncSolve® Perfectly Complements MEDITECH’s Corporate Management Software (CMS)

HOW EFFECTIVE IS YOUR MEDITECH SYSTEM?

Utilizing your Electronic Health Record’s (EHR’s) TEST system is the best way to ensure that issues with dictionary, parameter, or new software changes are discovered prior to introducing patient safety or other issues into your LIVE EHR environment. However, your EHR’s TEST system is only truly effective in catching problems if it behaves the same way as your LIVE EHR. That means putting effort into supporting a proper dictionary management process. Whatever dictionaries are built and edited in the LIVE system need to have the same changes made in the TEST system and vice versa. This is easier said than done. Manually re-keying dictionary edits in two different systems is an arduous process filled with opportunities to introduce human error. These errors can eventually lead to more time spent troubleshooting issues that arise from TEST and LIVE systems not behaving the same. Let’s learn why SyncSolve® complements MEDITECH’s Corporate Management Software (CMS) so perfectly.

CORPORATE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE (CMS)

MEDITECH customers are receiving the MEDITECH CMS solution with new Expanse implementations. The CMS system was first developed for larger corporate healthcare organizations and Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs). It was a way for large organizations to standardize their EHR content across all facilities. Dictionaries could be built in one “standards” HCIS, and CMS background jobs would propagate those dictionary edits to target corporate HCIS. One great feature is that the system allows certain fields and certain dictionaries to be “localized.” For instance, it would not make sense to standardize and centrally control the location dictionary. There are a lot of dictionaries and fields that are very specific to designated facilities.

CMS not only keeps disparate MEDITECH facility EHRs synchronized, it is also used to keep the separate MEDITECH TEST and LIVE system’s synchronized. This is the primary reason why MEDITECH started offering it to smaller organizations with Expanse. CMS is a big step in the right direction for dictionary management. However, it is not the be-all end-all. There are still some challenges with the CMS system. Here are some limitations:

  • A lot of dictionaries are not controlled/propagated by CMS.
  • The full automation of CMS is a positive, but there are times when more granular control and analysis is desired.
  • When customers are going through a MEDITECH update, propagation from one MEDITECH release to another is not possible.
  • Sometimes things do not sync as intended due to CMS or other MEDITECH software problems. These issues can be difficult to detect without an additional dictionary compare tool.

WHY SYNCSOLVE® COMPLIMENTS MEDITECH’S CMS

The HCI Solution has several customers that utilize both CMS and SyncSolve® for their dictionary management needs. Why? SyncSolve® is 100% CMS compatible – dictionaries that are synced by SyncSolve® to the “standards” HCIS are propagated to all CMS target HCIS’s, even dictionaries from other MEDITECH releases. SyncSolve® can be used to compare any dictionary from one MEDITECH system to another, even across Universes! CMS does not synchronize every dictionary. SyncSolve® synchronizes nearly every dictionary. Here are just a few of the many examples of dictionaries that can be synced by SyncSolve® that cannot be synced by CMS:

  • Person Dictionary
  • Canned text
  • Menu/Procedure Access
  • CWS Resource
  • Oncology Treatment Plan

When MEDITECH customers are going through an update, SyncSolve® can synchronize between software releases, where CMS cannot. Some of our customers even use SyncSolve® to compare dictionaries between HCIS’s to make sure that CMS is functioning properly. SyncSolve® provides much more granular control than CMS does. It allows you to sync specific fields within specific dictionaries, something that CMS does not do. It allows users to create very specific use-cases for hospital initiatives.

UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE HCI SOLUTION’S SYNCSOLVE® APPLICATION

  • Available in MAGIC, CS, M-AT 6.x, Expanse
  • Compare dictionaries across databases, HCIS’s, and even UNV’s
  • View discrepancies field by field
  • View dependent dictionary deficiencies
  • Generate detailed work lists and reports
  • Launch directly to dictionary Enter/Edit screens from work lists
  • Schedule and automate dictionary maintenance
  • Monitor dictionaries for changes
  • Auto-synchronize dictionary and dependent dictionary differences
  • Build custom use cases
  • Manage access controls for decentralization
  • Copy dictionaries and parameters
  • Distribute reports by email

THE PERFECT MARRIAGE IN THE DICTIONARY MANAGEMENT FAMILY

CMS is a great tool for automating the propagation of dictionary edits. It goes a long way in helping to keep your TEST and LIVE systems synchronized. However, it does not cover everything. SyncSolve® will fill in those gaps. SyncSolve® is the perfect tool to help complete specific use-case projects along with CMS, like building new assessments in TEST prior to syncing them to “standards”, or building users in LIVE and then syncing them to TEST. It is also useful for migrating previous release TEST dictionaries to your new TEST release ring, for those dictionaries that MEDITECH could not copy. Hopefully now you see why SyncSolve® perfectly complements MEDITECH’s Corporate Management Software (CMS).

DON’T HAVE CMS?

If you don’t have MEDITECH’s CMS system, then SyncSolve® is the only real option for you, that truly works. SyncSolve® is available for MAGIC, C/S, 6.x, and Expanse.

To learn more about The HCI Solution’s SyncSolve®­­­­  CLICK HERE.

CONTACT US to schedule a demo and see SyncSolve® in action.

 


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