An overview of the OSEHRA VistA Platform for Engineering and Quality Assurance Professionals

1. & VistA
An overview of the OSEHRA VistA Platform for
Engineering and Quality Assurance Professionals

2. NETSPECTIVE
What is OSEHRA?
• Open Source Electronic Health Record Agent(OSEHRA) supports open,
collaborative community of users, developers, and companies engaged
in advancing electronic health record software and health information
technology
• Formed in Sept. 2011 to unify the EHRs of DVA and DOD and take
advantage of the Open Source Communities
• The OSEHRA’s responsibility is to facilitate the rapid rate of innovation
and improvements of VistA using open source community
• Provides framework for architectural direction, certification and Testing
of the Applications
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3. NETSPECTIVE
VistA Background
• Started 25 years ago by Department of Veterans Affairs to automate their 170+
medical centers
• Used the then-popular M procedural programming language which is also called
MUMPS (predates C language with its own syntax and style)
• Developed Foundation and Framework to support their Applications
• They named it DHCP(Decentralized Hospital Computer Program), VISTA(Veterans
Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture) and the suite consisted
of over 168+ hospital Applications on top of the Framework
• VistA is not an all or nothing proposition. Very large collection of applications
and only a portion of it may be relevant to the need at hand
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4. NETSPECTIVE
VistA Foundation
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Source: http://www.hardhats.org/dhcptovista.html
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5. NETSPECTIVE
VistA Foundation & Frameworks
• M Technology – The M Language and Database
• File Manager – Active Data Dictionary based Database Management written in M
• Kernel - Application framework, based on M and File Manager, providing services
such as menus, device selection, background task scheduling, MailMan(SMTP
based), KIDS(powerful distribution mechanism) etc
• Applications - End-user software. VISTA supports the development of these
applications by providing a framework of Kernel, Fileman and M (MUMPS)
• Universal SQL access to VISTA Databases
• M code is not compiled or linked: Thus allowing incredible degree of integration
between applications
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6. NETSPECTIVE
VistA Architecture
Source: OSEHRA architecture
document
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7. NETSPECTIVE
VistA Technology Stack
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Databases
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Gateways for Modern Languages such as JAVA, .NET, PHP to develop Web based Client Apps
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InterSystems Proprietary Cache version of MUMPS runs on Windows and Linux
Open Source GT.M(Greystone Technology M) version of MUMPS also getting bundled recently with VISTA
runs on GNU/LINUX. Non Linux with custom license.
Cache Object Script
M2Web is Open Source Web Gateway to MUMPS to use with VISTA
MGWSI module from M/Gateway group to act as Gateway between Cache, GT.M M21 MUMPS databases
CPRS(Computerized Patient Record System) client-server graphical interface in Delphi to the
clinicians to review, update EHRs
Cache/GT.M (MUMPS)
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MGWSI/M2Web
Java, PHP, .NET etc…
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8. NETSPECTIVE
VistA Sample Applications
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CPRS(Computerized Patient Record System) used to review, update Patient EHRs
Radiology
Dentistry
Laboratory
Laboratory - Blood Bank
Laboratory – Anatomic Pathology etc…
My HeltheVet
Eyecare
Ambulatory Care
Nursing
Clinical Administration
Patient Care
List goes on to over health care 180 applications
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9. NETSPECTIVE
Cache DB Sample Screen
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10. NETSPECTIVE
CPRS Sample Screen
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11. NETSPECTIVE
Additional Information
• OSEHRA website: www.osehra.org
• HardHats.org: http://www.hardhats.org
• MUMPS
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MUMPS
– http://www.mcenter.com/mtrc/mfaqhtm1.html
• World Vista: www.worldvista.org
• Webnairs:
https://www.vxvista.org/display/vx4Learn/Recorded+
Webinars
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12. Visit
http://www.netspective.com
http://www.healthcareguy.com
Thank You