ICW Presents Improved Networking Solutions for Patient Identification and Data Sharing

InterComponentWareInterComponentWare AG (ICW) will be presenting the newest improvements to its standards-based networking solutions at Medica 2011: ICW MPI, the proven Master Patient Index for unique patient identification across system boundaries, is now available in modular form to support use scenarios of different sizes. ICW Professional Exchange Server (PXS), a cross-facility patient record now offers new functionalities for sharing and consolidating patient data quickly and safely across boundaries between individual institutions or healthcare sectors. Combined, ICW MPI and ICW PXS form the flexible and sustainable basis for the incremental growth of modern regional and national-level networks.

ICW Master Patient Index: Modular in design - flexible in use
ICW MPI consists of five modules that can be used separately or together to synchronize patient identities between IT systems within one organization, or to provide unique patient identification in data sharing scenarios across the boundaries between institutions or healthcare sectors.

The modularization of ICW MPI gives hospitals the flexibility they need to quickly begin using streamlined, pre-configured in-house ID management today, even if future expansion to accommodate cross-facility patient records is still in planning stages. The modules are capable of seamless expansion, as needed. The individual modules include:

  • ICW MPI Match Engine: The key building block of ICW MPI. It is based on a mature, probability-based matching algorithm that can reconcile complex data constellations (abbreviations, spelling errors, etc.) automatically with a high degree of reliability.
  • ICW MPI Quality Manager: Provides a comprehensive suite of decision aids and workflow mechanisms to help resolve particularly complex matching tasks that must be performed manually.
  • ICW MPI Statistics: Provides reporting and statistical functions to continuously review matching quality and to indicate opportunities for improvement. Filterable lists will allow automatic and manual mappings to be reviewed later.
  • ICW MPI Configurator: Provides users with a graphic user interface, giving them the option to configure the matching algorithm to their specific needs.
  • ICW MPI IHE Connectivity: Ensures conformity with the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) framework, specifically PIX (Patient Identifier Cross-referencing) and PDQ (Patient Demographics Query) profiles for querying identifiers and demographic data.

Strict standards compliance and high scalability make ICW MPI ideal for major health facilities and hospital chains, along with regional or national-level networks as well. ICW MPI can be expanded to include ICW PXS, which enables the sharing of medical documents such as images or reports of examinations based on the integration profile XDS (Cross-Enterprise Document Sharing). "We decided ICW Professional Suite, not just because it improves the quality of our master data and supports our framework architecture, but also because it offers solutions for the exchange of medical data that can support the national eHealth strategy," confirms Magnus Oetiker, Head of Hospital Services for the Hirslanden Group, Switzerland.

ICW Professional Exchange Server: Universal, Secure, Easy to Use
ICW PXS provides users with a patient-centered view of aggregated medical information across boundaries between systems or healthcare sectors. Thanks to its web-based portal screen, access to inter-facility, common medical records is very easy, and requires no special interfaces to legacy information systems in hospitals or medical practices. It gives authorized physicians a uniform picture of the health conditions of their shared patients.

One additional new functionality of the newest version is of ICW PXS is the capability for secure physician-to-physician communication. An integrated, web-based e-mail system allows doctors to exchange messages and links to documents (reports of treatment, discharge letters, etc.). Unlike other communication by Webmail in hospitals and medical practices, messages never leave the secure ICW PXS operating environment. Thus, ICW PXS makes it possible to have routine electronic communication with a high level of data protection.

In July 2011, ICW proved again that it places the highest emphasis on data security during security testing conducted by SySS GmbH, which tested a number of ICW PXS interfaces for any security gaps. SySS GmbH confirmed after the testing that the developers at ICW had given the necessary attention to the validating of inputs and outputs so that none of the weaknesses typically found in web applications were identified.

ICW MPI and ICW PXS - Fundamental for Building Modern Networking Solutions
Modern, integrated care delivery concepts demand that patient data be capable of being shared across the boundaries between individual institutions or healthcare sectors. This is where ICW MPI and ICW PXS can provide a solid foundation. Both applications are highly scalable, so they are suitable for networking scenarios of different sizes. They are built upon the ICW eHealth Platform, with its strict adherence to international standards like HL7 and IHE. Moreover, at IHE Connectathons in both Europe and the USA, both applications have repeatedly demonstrated their conformity with many IHE profiles. Peter Kirschbauer, ICW CEO: "In future, interoperability is going to be the yardstick against which sustainable eHealth solutions will be measured. That is why our modularly designed ICW eHealth Platform supports HL7 and IHE conformity right out of the box, and what makes it possible for us to integrate sustainable solutions like ICW MPI and ICW PXS into existing IT landscapes cost-efficiently."

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About ICW
ICW is an international healthcare technology provider. Our robust software and techniologies help to network the various actors, optimize care and engage patients in the treatment process. Our products are based on the ICW eHealth Platform, a suite of powerful technology components that support the quick assembly of eHealth solutions and the flexible implementation of integration scenarios. Together with our partners, our goal is to enable interoperability among healthcare stakeholders to harvest potentials and realize innovative forms of cooperation and collaboration. For more information go to www.icw-global.com.

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