Orion Systems International Limited (www.orionhealth.com) has just launched Rhapsody™ 1.1, the latest version of its powerful, “out-of-the-box” interface engine.  The engine is already installed and running in 20 hospital sites. 

Orion’s “pit crew” worked with IT teams in heavy traffic hospital environments to refine and enhance the engine, making it even easier to install, use and maintain.  The new, faster version seamlessly connects large numbers of data routes.  Hospital CIOs report that Rhapsody is the replacement interface engine they have been waiting for because it offers a superior level of integration, faster interfacing and reliable support. 

Feedback includes the following:

“Orion has given us the tools and flexibility to integrate our systems to a degree not previously possible,” said Kevin DeWitz, senior web master at Central Washington Hospital.  “Rhapsody offers us both the power to handle our wide variety of interfacing needs and the ease of use to make such administration practical in an organization of our size.”

“We had been using another integration engine for years that we wanted to replace, and Rhapsody was the most promising of all engines we tested,” said Michael Gruettner, Data Mining Consultant Europe, Philips Medical Systems GmbH.  “The commitment of the Orion people is outstanding, support is fast and efficient, and the quality of the software is superior.  Rhapsody absolutely lives up to our expectations!”
 
“Rhapsody has given us the confidence to handle any message type and not worry about complications,” said Sudesh Patel, development manager for System C Healthcare (UK).  “It allows us to concentrate on the development work that we do best, while letting Rhapsody deal effectively with the messaging components of our solutions.  Rhapsody allowed us to build interfaces quickly.  Whereas it would take 2-3 days to develop a new HL7 interface with our old product, we could create the same interface in a single morning with Rhapsody.” 

Designed for quick installation and easy operation, Rhapsody enables the secure and accurate exchange of data in any format, across virtually any platform.  This is critical in the health sector, where personal, time-sensitive information is regularly exchanged.  Rhapsody can help improve the accuracy and comprehensiveness of electronic medical records.

Technical detail

Rhapsody acts as an intermediary between multiple separate systems, translating or mapping between different messaging formats, so the systems can talk to and understand each other.  Rhapsody manages, routes and converts electronic messages to and from any format, including HL7, XML, X.12, HIPAA, EDIFACT, NCPDP, HCFA, ASTM, database and supporting custom formats. 

With Rhapsody’s “drag and drop” technology, message routes and communications points can be rapidly created in real time.  And because Rhapsody is web based, monitoring and maintenance can be securely accessed anytime from anywhere.

The Java-based engine can run on any platform, and every part operates independently.  This allows users to reconfigure individual components, add new functions (i.e., filters, communication points, message routes), and perform checks live on the engine, ensuring maximum availability of the system.  Every stage of a message's journey through the engine can be easily configured and controlled by the user.

Unlike other engines, Rhapsody is capable of converting any electronic message to a PDF, enabling a hospital to quickly transmit or fax patient data from its system to external health providers and primary care physicians.  Providing robust security and encryption, the engine guarantees that messages are delivered and audits and archives the entire process. 

Rhapsody was designed, built and tested by the same development team that created Symphonia™, regarded as the world’s leading middleware messaging and mapping toolkit.  Processing more than 3 million messages per hour, Symphonia cuts integration time by up to 90 percent and has set the benchmark for interface development tools. 

About System C Healthcare: Orion’s OEM Partner
System C Healthcare specialises in innovative, integrated solutions for healthcare organisations.  The Medway product range delivers electronic patient records within the organisation and over United Kingdom’s National Health Service net.  As an OEM partner for Orion, System C Healthcare has installed Rhapsody in four hospitals, with a planned role out to all of System C Healthcare’s current customers. 

About Orion Systems International Limited
Orion Systems International Limited is a global leader in information access and interfacing technologies.  Specializing in health IT, Orion provides innovative software that integrates and enhances healthcare systems, saving time and money while improving efficiency and outcomes.  Orion’s award-winning tools and applications facilitate the secure access to and exchange of
information between hospitals, doctors and clinicians, improving the communications and connectivity between providers.  Orion’s products are used and trusted around the world by clients, including Abbott Laboratories, IBM, Harvard University, McKesson and Philips.  More information can be found at www.orionhealth.com.