title: A Lab-EMR interoperability profile as an eHealth architecture component for resource-constrained settings.
abstract: Implementation of computerized systems in resource-constrained settings have been gaining traction as a means of improving the delivery of health care, the use and reuse of information, and providing a standards-based capacity for assessing the process and impact of health care. In a resource-constrained environment, systems are often implemented as stand-alone entities focused on specific care activities (for example, delivering antiretroviral therapy). As such, in many countries, taking a generalized approach to linking electronic medical record systems with laboratory information systems (EMR-LIS) is an important area in which to achieve interoperability. In this paper we describe a scenario of use and information interaction interoperability profile based on our experience implementing EMR-LIS integration in two resource-constrained settings. Of significance, the profile emphasizes queued matching in order to avoid mutual dependence while achieving interoperability between systems.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Informatics Research Group, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7266, USA. lober@uw.edu
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Lober
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Revere
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hills
mesh_terms: D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003628:Database Management Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D008498:Medical Record Linkage / Q000379:methods*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D014861:Washington