OVERVIEW
We partnered with a client who required seamless integration of multiple EHR platforms—including Epic, Cerner, Athenahealth, eClinicalWorks (eCW), OpenEMR, and EHR aggregators like Redox into their Care Management platform. The objective was to unify patient records, streamline provider workflows, and improve billing accuracy across a network of diverse healthcare providers.
Client
The client is a Care Management provider that works with hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers using different EHR platforms. Their primary goal was to build a single system of truth for patient records, minimize administrative overhead, and enable efficient, transparent billing and care coordination across practices.
Challenges
- Fragmented EHR Ecosystem: Providers within the client’s network relied on Epic, Cerner, Athenahealth, eCW, and OpenEMR, leading to fragmented patient data silos.
- High Administrative Workload: Care managers had to manually re-enter patient information across systems, consuming valuable time.
- Inconsistent Patient Records: Data mismatches and duplicate entries occurred frequently due to multiple disconnected systems.
- Billing Inefficiencies: Disjointed workflows led to claim errors, delays in reimbursement, and compliance risks.
- Care Coordination Challenges: Without a unified data flow, coordinating treatment across providers became inefficient and error-prone.
Solution
To address the client’s challenges, we designed and implemented a comprehensive EHR integration framework within their CareManagement platform. The focus was on breaking down silos between different EHR systems and enabling a seamless flow of patient data, billing information, and care workflows. The solution was built with industry-leading interoperability tools and standards to ensure both compliance and scalability.
Interoperability Layer with Redox
- We integrated Redox as the central interoperability layer to simplify connections with diverse EHRs such as Epic, Cerner, Athenahealth, eClinicalWorks, and OpenEMR.
- Redox acted as a “translator,” converting data from different EHR formats into a standardized structure that the Care Management portal could consume.
- This eliminated the need for custom point-to-point integrations and created a scalable framework for onboarding new providers.
HL7 and FHIR API Integration
- We built robust HL7 v2 interfaces for exchanging patient demographics, lab results, and encounter data.
- In parallel, FHIR APIs were implemented for structured resources like patient records, medications, allergies, and clinical notes.
- This dual-layer approach ensured interoperability with both legacy systems (HL7) and modern EHR platforms (FHIR).
SMART on FHIR Enablement
- To support compliance with ONC and CMS interoperability mandates, we enabled SMART on FHIR apps.
- This allowed secure, standards-based access for external providers or third-party applications directly within their EHR environment.
Data Transformation and Routing with Mirth Connect
- Mirth Connect was deployed to handle message transformation, routing, and validation between systems.
- For example, an HL7 admission-discharge-transfer (ADT)message from Epic was normalized and mapped into FHIR resources before being displayed in the Care Management portal.
Centralized Patient Dashboard
- A unified dashboard was created within the CareManagement portal, aggregating data from all connected EHRs.
- Care managers and providers could view a 360-degree patient record, including medical history, vitals, medications, and care plans, without logging into multiple systems.
Automated Billing & Claims Module
- We built a billing engine that automatically mapped encounters and clinical services to CPT and ICD-10 codes.
- Integration with payer systems reduced manual effort in claims submission and improved the speed of reimbursement.
Workflow Automation for Care Managers
- Care managers were given tools to assign tasks, track care plans, and set reminders directly within the portal.
- Data updates from one system were propagated across all connected EHRs in real time, eliminating duplication and ensuring consistency.
Security and Compliance
- The integration architecture was designed with HIPAA and HITRUST compliance in mind.
- We applied role-based access control (RBAC), secure audit trails, and encrypted data exchange to protect patient information.
Scalability for Future Growth
- We have built a framework that seamlessly onboards additional providers and integrates new EHR systems without re-engineering.
- With reusable APIs and connectors, it is a future-ready solution that supports ongoing growth and regulatory updates.
Benefits
- Unified Patient Data: Provider records from Epic, Cerner, Athenahealth, eCW, and OpenEMR were consolidated into one consistent platform.
- Reduced Administrative Burden: Care managers and providers avoided duplicate data entry, focusing more on patient engagement.
- Accurate Real-Time Records: HL7/FHIR-driven synchronization ensures providers always have the most up-to-date information.
- Faster and Error-Free Billing: Automated claims workflows improved accuracy, reduced denials, and accelerated reimbursements.
- Seamless Care Coordination: Providers collaborated across different EHR systems as if working within one unified platform.
- Future-Ready Scalability: The framework supportsonboarding of additional EHR systems or provider networkswithout rework.
Tech Stack
- EHR Integration Tools: Redox, HL7, FHIR APIs, SMART on FHIR, Mirth Connect
- Programming Language: Java
- Backend Framework: Spring Boot
- Message Broker: RabbitMQ
- Frontend Framework: ReactJS
- Authentication & Security: JWT authentication, HIPAA-compliant
- Data Persistence: JPA (Java Persistence API)
- Database: PostgreSQL
- Cloud Services: AWS / Azure
- Architecture: Microservices
- Device Integrations: Tenovi, SmartMeter, Transtek, Validic
- Deployment: Docker containerization
- Product Model: SaaS-based
- Secure APIs aligned with ONC and HIPAA healthcare data standards
About Emorphis
Emorphis Technologies is a world-class software development and solutions company that truly believes in “Innovation in motion”. Delivery innovation on the go at an accelerated pace has been our success mantra to date. Over the years, we have provided value to our clients in the field of enterprise mobility, cloud, IoT, backend development, Big Data Analytics, and Blockchain.
We serve industries ranging from unicorns and startups to large multinationals in the healthcare, telecommunications, fintech, retail, and publishing industries. Our go-to-market software products – iStatement, iPublisher, and iBuggy have proved our mettle with positive, beneficial customer testimonials. We help our clients with successful product development, consulting services, and testing (manual & automated).
We have profound experience & expertise in various technologies like .NET, J2EE, PHP, iOS, Android, and Cloud Computing, viz. Amazon Web Services (AWS), Software QA & testing (Manual & Automation). Our designed products are cloud-ready and can be readily deployed on AWS/Azure cloud infrastructure.
Our pivot on engineering innovation and R&D helps quicken time-to-market, ensuring high quality at economies of scale, delivering cult competency for the global marketplace. We ensure that your ideas, concepts, and requirements are backed by brilliant execution at our end. Having said that, we extend end-to-end ownership of product/application design, development, and deployment.
