In this Talking HealthTech podcast episode, host Sophie Turner speaks with Vivek Krishnan, Chief Technology Officer at Alcidion. The discussion centres on digital innovation in healthcare, emphasising the role of interoperability, event-driven platforms, and the FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) standard. This conversation offers an exploration into how Alcidion's patient flow solutions and FHIR-based platform contribute to the enhancement of data exchange and patient care.
The Importance of Healthcare Interoperability
Increasing Need for Real-Time Data Exchange
Recent years have witnessed a growing understanding among healthcare organisations and governments about the necessity for a system that facilitates real-time data exchange. Conventional systems are often plagued by latency and delays, impeding essential activities such as patient registration and allergy documentation.
Traditional Systems vs FHIR events Platform
Krishnan compares antiquated, paper-based systems to the FHIR events platform, noting the manual processes required for tasks like pathology result reviews and patient follow-ups. The FHIR events platform can automate such activities, contributing to increased efficiency and enhanced patient care.
Unpacking FHIR and the FHIR events Platform
FHIR: A Consistent Language for Healthcare Data
FHIR aims to standardise the language and methods used for healthcare data exchange. The standard offers guidelines for the storing and sharing of healthcare information, thereby promoting interoperability within and among different healthcare systems.
FHIR events Platform: Facilitating Efficient Workflows
The FHIR events platform employs technologies such as HTTP, JSON, and MSDP, operating in concert with FHIR. This event-driven platform supports efficient data exchange and helps prevent data duplication, thus enabling various systems within a healthcare organisation to interact without requiring manual data input.
Alcidion’s Role in Transforming Healthcare
Patient Flow Solutions
Alcidion has an established history in creating patient flow solutions, utilising digital technologies like smart clinical rules and machine learning to optimise patient movement within healthcare facilities.
Contributions Across Healthcare Sectors
Alcidion has made progress in areas such as virtual care, remote patient monitoring, and electronic medical record systems. Through collaboration with clinical professionals, the company integrates technology solutions into existing clinical and patient workflows.
The FHIR events Platform's Influence on Healthcare Interoperability
From Legacy Systems to Event-Driven Platforms
The discussion notes the healthcare sector's historical dependence on procedural methodologies. In contrast, event-driven platforms like the FHIR events platform react to specific healthcare events in real-time. This real-time processing is applicable in numerous scenarios such as pathology results and billing.
Data Integration and Workflow Management
The FHIR events platform is designed to gather and standardise data from different hospital systems, making it accessible in a unified format. Beyond data exchange, the platform incorporates capabilities for actionable insights through analytics.
Implications of the FHIR events Platform
Improved Care and Proactive Health Initiatives
The FHIR events platform allows healthcare professionals to direct their attention to patient care, as they spend less time navigating system complexities. The platform's integration of AI and machine learning also facilitates proactive healthcare measures.
Adoption and Standardisation
Originally developed in Australia, the underlying technology of the FHIR events platform has seen global adoption. Countries like the United States and the United Kingdom have adopted FHIR as a national standard, aiding its wider acceptance.
Addressing the Future of Interoperability
Role of Health Information Exchanges
Health Information Exchanges (HIE) serve as key facilitators in the exchange of healthcare data across various organisational and geographical boundaries. The FHIR events platform represents an evolution in this area, utilising FHIR standards to process real-time data and trigger actionable outcomes.
Overcoming Challenges
Successfully addressing interoperability issues requires concerted efforts from technology and healthcare leaders. The adoption of standards like FHIR simplifies data flow between different systems, thereby negating the necessity for manual data entry.
Summary and Reflections
This podcast episode highlights the FHIR events platform's role in advancing healthcare data interoperability. While the platform offers promising improvements in patient care and system efficiency, its impact will continue to enhance as digital transformation in healthcare progresses.
