Engineering an HL7 interface and wireless infrastructure to improve the efficiency of ECG analysis at Hartford Hospital

This paper describes the integration of Hartford Hospital's current 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) software with the hospital's information systems (admit, discharge, transfer (ADT); orders; and billing) by engineering a Health Level Seven Standard Interface (HL7) specifically for the hospital's unique software amalgamation. Data formats for the wireless transmission of information were investigated. Distinctive requirements, work-flow, and validation procedures for interfacing the 12-lead ECG system using the HL7 standard were configured. Lastly, the implementation of a wireless transmission component was also developed so completed ECGs could be instantaneously sent to the ECG software directly from the ECG machine, where the analysis was performed. Spectrum analysis was utilized to scrutinize the hospital's current unique wireless infrastructure.