Medical Support

The VA Search Engine, currently named Voogle, provides an intuitive search Graphic User Interface (GUI) to retrieve data from the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA). The Voogle interface is a Silverlight Web application which references a Cache web service to execute MUMPS routines. These adapted routines extend the existing MUMPS routines in VistA global files to retrieve the requested information for a selected patient from VistA and return the information to Voogle in a standardized XML format. Voogle parses the response data into a generic data source which can then be used to display the query results in one of several output formats including charts, data grids, timelines, or as a searchable PDF. The web service executes specialized Voogle MUMPS routines which access and extend the existing VistA MUMPS routines. MUMPS databases use numeric keys to access all file and field entities within the database rather than the text field name. The Voogle MUMPS routines interact with a new set of specialized Voogle VistA entities which extend VistA file entities with additional fields such as default display type and security level. Once the correct data has been retrieved, the Voogle MUMPS routines perform further sorting and filtering processes to return the data in an XML format. Voogle and the specialized MUMPS routines add a layer of security by attaching a minimum access level for each data element in the VistA knowledge base. Each validated user is also assigned an access level. During processing, if the user requests data beyond his or her access level, the query response will only return a message that the data exceeds the user's security level.

The Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB), a subdivision of the USDA - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, desired a secure computer system to support and manage the Biological Licensing, Serial Release and Testing procedures. The new system allows CVB to manage the above mentioned processes and to exchange information with other Government agencies, stakeholders, etc. to ensure purity, safety, potency and efficacy and/or to support CVB mission and strategies. The system was developed as a Java-based web application using Struts to create dynamic and secure web pages and all related data was stored in an Oracle database. The entire system was implemented on Oracle WebLogic servers.

The VA needs assistance with the VIReC mission to improve the quality of research using VA databases and information systems.  VIReC was established to support VA researchers and clinicians who use databases and informatics by evaluating the reliability and validity of data used extensively in VA health services research. VIReC develops and disseminates knowledge about databases of interest to VA researchers; provides service to researchers who require information about data resources specific to their research; and represents interests of researchers regarding VA databases and information systems.  VIReC also provides detailed and summary information on VA and non-VA data sources of particular relevance to VA research.  VIReC staff, scientists, and advisors include database experts, informatics experts, research methodologists, and experts for various VA database content areas.

This project falls under the VIReC strategic goal of Database and Data Quality Knowledge: Create a growing knowledge base of factual and evaluative information about VA and select non-VA data for VA researchers using databases and information systems.  VIReC websites serve as a researchers' guide to VA data by providing a portal to VA products and services.  This task is to redesign Internet and Intranet sites to display research data stored in a SQL Server database.

The VHA Innovation Program needs assistance expanding the capabilities of the Graphical User Interface (GUI) FileMan Reporting Tool to provide a Web Application to view data previously retrieved and stored in a SQL Server database.  The existing GUI FileMan Reporting Tool retrieves relevant data from the Veteran's Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) much more rapidly than performing separate manual searches using the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).  The GUI FileMan Reporting Tool was initially piloted as a suicide tracking tool, but it is capable to track additional clinical and administrative measures.  The goal of this project is to further enhance the benefits of the GUI FileMan Tool by storing data results from the custom-defined queries in a SQL Server Database and providing the ability for users to access this pre-compiled data through a Web Application.

PPHPC required a master client communications database to ensure current records and efficient data processing to interface with a variety of external proprietary databases. A VB.NET application was created which manages records by pointing to external databases and creates a mailing list for use with other mail merge software for communications lists, labels and mailings.

The customer is a medium sized business with an existing IT infrastructure. With no dedicated IT Support on staff, it is important to have a reliable company who can provide routine and emergency services for their network. DSoft Technology provides the expert Microsoft Certified Network Engineers to maintain, monitor and support this system. We consult the business on the overall health and direction of their information systems to realize their system as a company asset, and not as a liability. We manage and monitor the system remotely via Virtual Private network, and provide a monthly maintenance service for the infrastructure to ensure peak performance and health.