UC Davis Health innovates on health data

UC Davis Health unveiled a major innovation with a successful integration of two major software platforms designed to enhance patient care.

The health system successfully implemented what is known as an “HL7 integration” between NeuroWorks and EPIC, the institution's electronic medical records (EMR) system on March 20. By doing so, this will enable advancements in neurodiagnostics and the patient care delivery system at UC Davis Health.

HL7 stands for “Health Level Seven,” a range of global standards for the transfer of clinical and administrative health data between applications with the aim to improve patient outcomes and health system performance.

HL7 data integration refers to integrating HL7 standards to enable health data interoperability in medical organizations. Messages composed by following HL7 rules have defined structures and data formats. They can be easily interpreted by systems that use different technologies.

More efficient, timely patient care

The new process works like this – by seamlessly routing EEG orders directly from EPIC to EEG machines, UC Davis Health technicians now receive real-time HL7 feed about required orders and final results sent back from NeuroWorks EEG to EPIC. (EEG stands for electroencephalography, a method to record an electrogram of the spontaneous electrical activity of the brain.) This newly streamlined communication not only enhances efficiency, but also boosts productivity, enabling staff to allocate resources more effectively for optimal patient care.

By automating the transfer of patient information such as medical record numbers, names, and dates of birth, the institution significantly enhances data accuracy and integrity. This reduces the risk of duplicate records and enhances physician satisfaction and productivity, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.

The seamless integration of EEG data into the EMR enables physicians to access critical information with unprecedented ease. Physicians now have immediate access to EEG reports and patient progress monitoring, enhancing the quality of patient care.

While similar solutions have taken other organizations an average of 3-5 years to implement, UC Davis Health achieved this milestone sooner, demonstrating the institution's dedication to innovation and excellence in health care delivery.