Addressing a Crisis in Healthcare IT - A few months ago, I had the opportunity to assist a healthcare organization grappling with a significant challenge. Their legacy Hospital Information System (HIS) had become inoperative due to technical failures, and their vendor had abandoned the project, leaving them without any support. The organization faced the daunting task of accessing critical clinical records and billing information trapped in the defunct system.
The Problem of Unstructured Data
The only salvageable component of the HIS was its database. Unfortunately, the database was in complete disarray, with inconsistent schemas, cryptic table names, and fragmented data structures. Without any documentation or insight into the schema, direct SQL queries to retrieve meaningful data were impractical. The organization was effectively locked out of their own information.
Developing a Solution: A Tailored C# Application
Understanding the gravity of the situation, I began analyzing the database schema and creating an intuitive and efficient solution. The result was a custom-built C# application that could extract critical data such as patient records, lab results, imaging reports, and procedural details. This application has since become an essential tool for the organization.
Core Features of the Application
The application was designed with a user-friendly interface, allowing medical professionals to:
- Search for patient records using unique identifiers.
- Retrieve and display detailed lab order histories.
- Access imaging order summaries, including angiograms and X-rays.
- Provide secure, system-based access to scanned documents linked to specific patients.
Technical Overview of the Program
The application works by connecting to the HIS database using structured queries. Here's a summarized explanation of how it functions:
- It retrieves patient-specific information based on the selected medical record number (MRN).
- For lab orders, it aggregates data, such as the prescribing doctor and test details, and displays them in a formatted view.
- For imaging orders, it not only lists the procedures but also includes detailed reports, formatted in HTML for browser rendering.
- A separate feature directs users to scanned documents hosted on an internal server.
Key Code Snippets
The following snippet illustrates how the program fetches lab orders:
"FROM V_DA_LAB_PRESCRIPTION " +
"WHERE medical_record_number = @mrn " +
"ORDER BY created_date DESC";
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(query, connection);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@mrn", medicalRecordNumber);
This query, combined with the logic to display formatted results in a RichTextBox control, enables the application to present data in an organized and readable manner.
Application Highlights
- Efficiency: Data extraction and presentation are optimized, ensuring fast retrieval of even large datasets.
- Flexibility: The application supports multiple types of data, including lab and imaging results.
- Ease of Use: With a clear UI and streamlined functionality, users can quickly navigate and access required information.
- Security: Sensitive data is handled securely, with permissions enforced to prevent unauthorized access.
Challenges Faced During Development
Building the application was not without its challenges:
- Reverse engineering the database schema required significant time and effort.
- Managing inconsistent and incomplete data while ensuring accurate retrieval.
- Designing a robust user interface that medical professionals could use with minimal training.
- Impact of the Application
The application has been transformative for the organization:
- Restored Data Accessibility: Essential medical and billing records are now accessible, enabling continuity in patient care.
- Improved Operational Efficiency: Staff can retrieve critical information in seconds, compared to the hours it took with the old system.
- Cost Savings: The organization avoided expensive third-party services by leveraging an in-house solution.
Conclusion
Users have expressed their satisfaction with the application's intuitive design and speed. This project underscores the importance of well-documented and structured database systems. Moving forward, I aim to enhance the application with analytics capabilities, enabling users to derive actionable insights from historical data. The success of this C# application highlights how technology can bridge the gap between outdated systems and modern needs. By understanding the challenges, leveraging technical expertise, and focusing on user requirements, I was able to provide a sustainable solution that continues to make a difference.
