Pukka-j states that its latest web-deployed product Imaging Information System (IIS provides a robust software platform architecture, including an interoperable and versatile HL7 engine to allow integrations with all healthcare systems to handle the presentation, storage and management of referrals, request documentation, patient history, diagnostic triage, patient consent, images and reports. 

“The ability to manage the demands of imaging data present a challenge. With the widespread use of IT systems in healthcare, ‘film less’ imaging departments and ‘paperless’ hospitals and clinics are becoming evident.

“A strategic approach to integration helps to address these issues by putting business and clinical drivers at the heart of integration projects and by ensuring that integration services are both scalable and sustainable, bearing in mind the importance of consolidating and presenting data across milt-vendors solutions.

“Imaging is a crucial component of the electronics patient record; however, workflow in imaging is complex. In addition, an important and often overlooked element is that medical imaging requires more tan Dicom for workflow. 

“HL7 is an established global standard that fully complements the Dicom communication service classes and allows connectivity between imaging and non-imaging services. It is vital for keeping image archives synchronised with patient demographic updates and merges that occur in IT systems outside of RIS/PACS, providing protocols for the exchange, management and integration of clinical and administrative electronic healthcare data to enable interoperability of the patient record and interface requirements of the entire healthcare organisation.”

Kevin Wilson, managing director of Pukka-j, comments: “Our experience in integrating with a variety of patient administration and electronic patient record systems showed that there is a lack of standardisation in HL7 messaging, with software systems suppliers interpreting HL7 in different ways. The Pukka-j IIS HL7 integration engine translates incoming and outgoing messages between systems and copes with these differences.”

Kevin adds: “There is more to system integration than just application messaging. Ensuring careful attention to business and clinical workflows is also critical for success. 

“Pukka-j’s IIS, combining first-class HL7 and Dicom tools to aid the development and interpretation of the standards, provides a focus on very strong application integration, workflow and process management capabilities.”