Interoperability Archives - The HCI Solution

5 Reasons Why Hospitals Partner with The HCI Solution

Today people rely upon customer reviews and testimonies to decide which vendor to take their business to. Naturally, people want to work with a business that they can trust to get the job done effectively and efficiently within their time constraints. The HCI Solution relies on customer testimonies and references in gaining new customers. Our customers are eager to share their experiences in partnering with us and utilizing our products and services. To present a clear picture, we’ve come up with the following 5 Reasons Why Hospitals Partner with The HCI Solution.

1. Response Time/Communication

It can be frustrating when dealing with an unresponsive vendor, support team, or partner. The HCI Solution knows the impact unresponsiveness and lack of communication can have on productivity and the ability to meet critical deadlines. At The HCI Solution we strive for 1 hour response times, because time is valuable and so are our customer’s needs. We want to ensure that any inquiries, requests, and other correspondence are met with a timely response. Although we may not have an answer within the hour every time, we will do everything we can to acknowledge requests in a timely manner.

2. Reputation

The HCI Solution has a mission to deliver reliable and cost-effective software solutions and services that reduce costs and improve healthcare efficiency for our customers so that they can provide better patient care. We value our customers and their opinions of us, because when our customers share positive testimonies of their experience working with us it means we’ve done our job right.

3. Deeply Integrated Solutions

When we develop and enhance solutions at The HCI Solution, our main priority is that they seamlessly integrate with the other relevant tools and customers’ specific workflows for which they were created. Our applications are easy to use and deeply integrate with MEDITECH, allowing for easy staff adoption. We want customers to feel comfortable using all of our solutions on a regular basis. Our main goal with our applications is to increase workflow efficiency, saving facilities time and money.

4. Competitive Pricing

The HCI Solution offers all products and services with hospital budgets in mind. We strive to meet customer’s needs with a price point that’s fair and affordable. We offer discounts when customers are interested in multiple products and services, or are interested in products or services for multiple facilities. With our Engineering Concierge Services plan, hospitals have saved thousands of dollars and know that no matter how many of their contracted hours are used in a month or what services they are used for, they will continue to pay their contracted monthly rate for the hours used.

5. Filling and Bridging the Gaps

It can be difficult finding the right staff to meet all technical needs – they may possess skills to meet certain employment needs, but it is getting more difficult to find well-rounded individuals that cover all of a facility’s needs. Recruiting, vetting, hiring, onboarding, and training individuals can be an arduous task that takes time and money. The HCI Solution is staffed with individuals that can fill those technical gaps facilities may face. With our highly experienced, well-rounded team, it’s safe to say we have our customers covered. They consider us their “one stop shop.”

It’s for all of these reasons that we know customers can take comfort in the decision of choosing The HCI Solution as their credible industry partner. We are committed to carry out our mission, company values, and focus on our vision.

OUR MISSION

To deliver reliable and cost-effective software solutions and services that reduce costs and improve healthcare efficiency for our customers so that they can provide better patient care.

COMPANY VALUES

Trust is the foundation of any good relationship, and that is why we work hard to build trust with all of our customers. We hold ourselves accountable to our customers, shareholders, partners and employees by honoring our commitments, providing results and striving for the highest quality. We also believe strongly in maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction, which is why all of our products come with a satisfaction guarantee.

OUR VISION

To become the leader in software solutions to the healthcare industry by providing cost-effective and reliable products that lead to better patient care by:
• Enhancing patient safety
• Streamlining workflows
• Improving clinical efficiency
• Increasing IT efficiency
• Reducing costs
• Decreasing waste

When you choose The HCI Solution, you choose peace of mind.

5 Ways to Improve Clinician/Staff Satisfaction

One of the most valuable assets a hospital has is its clinicians and staff. Keeping your employees engaged and satisfied in their roles is essential to optimal performance and staff retention. By safeguarding your employee fulfillment you can reduce the high cost and resource demands of staff attrition.

So how do you ensure staff satisfaction? There are countless things employers can do to boost moral and job satisfaction. The HCI Solution aims to help their employees sustain a passion for their work while helping minimize effort and wasted time for our customers. Simple initiatives and minimal effort can go a long way towards keeping your clinicians and staff happy.

Empower Staff

Without empowering your staff with trust to make decisions and take action employees can not reach their full potential. To have a dream team where the employees take initiative, use their talent to problem solve and are innovative they must have the authority to use those skills. Delegating responsibilities with the intent to further develop and stretch your staff with clearly defined expectations and autonomy is the best way to provide structured staff empowerment. At The HCI Solution it is encouraged to continuously learn, grow and develop. With many of our Solutions for our customers being unique problems that have proved difficult to solve, HCI employees use creativity and their vast experience to overcome complicated tasks. Allowing the staff to enhance and steer their own job development ensures a mutually beneficial support system between staff and employer.

Reduce Workflow Interruption

Interruption of workflow with delayed system launches can put a damper on process turnover. Laggy launches to required systems is an example of wasted time that can be streamlined. The use of dynamic launches that can open in the background eliminating lag time or that can pass necessary information automatically from one program to another saves time and re-entering data. The HCI Solution achieves this through the use of LaunchIT for our customers. LaunchIT provides an intuitive solution that aims to eliminate unnecessary wait time to open another system and/or auto populating to the desired content. While a laggy launch might seem like an inconsequential nuisance, the time adds up quickly with multiple uses. When regulatory documentation is needed, keeping the time it takes to accomplish that task is a good idea to maintain compliance.

Support Staff With Needed Resources

Supporting your staff with the tools needed to achieve makes the clinical staff operations easier for everyone. Downtime can be one of the occasions when a good solution can make an enormous difference in the amount of work and frustration that is thrust upon the staff. Having a solution that mimics your current EHR and allows you to view all the necessary patient data to safely care for your patients while your system is down can prove invaluable. ContinuITy™ Downtime Portal was created with these factors in mind. Having an effective solution helps the clinical teams to continue to focus on their patients instead of the downtime obstacle leaving everyone with added peace of mind.

Automate Processes

Time-consuming manual tasks that can be automated are another source of grievance for clinicians and staff. There are many ways to automate tasks in a hospital and The HCI Solution has come up with a few. The HCI Solution’s Data Services team uses scripting and other tools to automate compiles and/or processes. One example is providing batch processing for numerous workflow initiatives. Some tasks are extremely time-consuming but necessary. Batch processing eliminates the arduous effort and minimizes the burden.

Cut Down on Menial Tasks

It is frustrating and inefficient for high value resources to be tasked with menial objectives that eat up their time. SyncSolve® is an application designed to limit time on such tasks while encouraging ongoing dictionary management. Many internal initiatives are made easier or are dependent on the accuracy of dictionaries. This efficiency eliminates unnecessary manual entry and double keying. Keeping the LIVE and TEST synchronized is not only useful for best practice purposes but also saves extensive amounts of time during any system upgrade. By converting a time consuming strenuous task into a quick and easy duty it lightens the resource load and saves resources for critical purposes.

There are many ways to improve clinician/staff satisfaction. These listed suggestions just scratch the surface of actions that can be taken for this objective. When thinking about the strain on staff sometimes streamlining their workflows and providing helpful tools can be enough; allowing for autonomy and growth while providing tools is even better. The HCI Solution is committed to building relationships and going the extra mile. Let The HCI Solution take some of the burdens and provide peace of mind.

Be Prepared for the Expected and Unexpected

You may have noticed more and more hospitals are making the decision to upgrade systems. Nowadays updates and upgrades are important; they offer more advanced security, ease of use, and enhanced integration and workflow features. Hospitals have found themselves in a push to keep up with technological advances over the years and increase their interoperability and efficiency like never before. It’s time to be prepared for the expected and unexpected and avoid delaying initiatives and upgrades.

With this enhanced and forever advancing technology comes the need of highly knowledgeable, well-rounded IT staff to keep systems running smoothly and efficiently. Hospitals cannot possibly acquire staff for every technical need they will face. New initiatives add to the demand of current staff and many hospitals do not have all the technical resources necessary when it comes time to prepare for and execute all tasks, especially unforeseeable issues, upgrading may involve.

When the decision is made to upgrade systems there are many things to consider. Do you have the resources necessary for any report writing, conversions, or extracts that may be required? Will you have scripting, custom integration, interface engine, and/or software development needs, and do you have the staffing necessary to accommodate those needs while still maintaining daily operations? Are you prepared for the testing and any other adjustments required to go LIVE?

When the need arises to augment technical resources, the vendor search then begins. How much time is spent trying to find the right vendor to meet your needs? Do they offer all the services and products that your initiatives require? If the answer is no, are you then stuck searching for multiple vendors to make sure you are covered in every area? How much time, money, and effort is involved in searching, vetting, and negotiating with the vendors under consideration?

Working with multiple vendors can be challenging. The time and resources involved with coordinating projects requiring multiple areas of expertise can be very costly and taxing to any facility. Certain vendors can cause delays leaving all parties involved at a standstill, which can be inefficient and stressful. Wouldn’t it be nice to have one well rounded, technical resource at your disposal when you require assistance? One vendor to call on any time help is needed with the heavy lifting while you continue to focus on day-to-day operations.

These are the very reasons The HCI Solution developed a plan to help facilities augment their technical resources. Engineering Concierge Services is a revolutionary concept rolling all the different services that The HCI Solution offers into one customizable plan for the same monthly rate. Utilize hours when and where you need extra resources the most. Avoid delaying Go-LIVE by having a credible industry council partner at your disposal through the entire process.

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We have multiple customers that have utilized Engineering Concierge Service plans when preparing for upgrade. Peterson Health has and continues to utilize a number of our services under Engineering Concierge, through their MEDITECH Expanse upgrade and beyond to ensure cost effective project completion. Engineering Concierge even allowed them to replace 4 vendors with a single point of contact saving them time, money, and the headache of coordinating with multiple vendors. Read PETERSON HEALTH’S TESTIMONIAL about their experience utilizing The HCI Solution’s Engineering Concierge Services.

Engineering Concierge Services is a versatile plan designed to fit any hospital’s budget. Sign on for as many or as few hours as you desire, lock in that competitive hourly rate, and split the cost into the same monthly payment for a year. Use your hours when and where you need the extra assistance, those hours are yours until they are used up with no expiration. Be prepared for the expected as well as the unexpected with Engineering Concierge Services.

Detailed look of how Engineering Concierge Services work.

Learn more about Engineering Concierge Services.

Improving Clinical Efficiencies: Single Sign-On and Content Sharing

Single Sign-On (SSO) is not the entire answer to clinical efficiencies but rather one important piece of the puzzle. There is no doubt SSO enabled software has allowed users to become more efficient, but the missing piece of the puzzle is clinical content sharing between applications. Clinical content, like what patient you’re on in the EMR, what clinical application you’re in, what user is logged into the workstations, what user is logged into the EMR, etc., are key pieces to the efficiency puzzle. Most clinical EMR software supports some level of FHIR API’s calls which have added much to the missing clinical content piece of efficiency, but it doesn’t solve the entire workflow challenge.

The missing piece of the puzzle is integrating other clinical software into the clinical EMR workflow with clinical and other content. Several specific challenges exist with content sharing, like is the user logged into the EMR the same as the user logged into the workstation? When launching other clinical applications from the EMR your SSO and content software must know who’s logged in to the EMR and who’s logged into the workstation. In the case of multi-user workstations, you want to know what EMR user is launching into the other clinical software. Another challenge is using Health Information Exchange (HIE) or other collaborative content sites and the delay to compile them when needed. For instance, you might want to precompile HIE or collaborative content when the user is on a specific screen so when they need it the content is immediately available, no need to wait while it compiles.

One way in which this efficiency has been achieved is through the use of LaunchIT. HCI’s LaunchIT application is designed to meet all the clinical content challenges without complicated, fragile software design. If you have clinical software you want to integrate with your clinical EMR workflow with SSO and content, LaunchIT is what you’re looking for. Powerful, solid architecture to meet all your clinical software integration needs.

Click here to learn more about how you can optimize your workflow with LaunchIT.

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.

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

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