Receiving HL7 Lab Results
This lesson will describe how to log in and receive HL7 lab results. This requires a SOAPwareXchangeHL7 Lab Interface license.
The HL7 Lab Interface allows the clinic to establish a direct interface to automatically receive lab, pathology, radiology, even transcription reports and have them automatically filed into the patient’s chart in SOAPware with the powerful SOAPwareXchangeHL7 Interface Module. The module reads the demographic information in the report, finds the matching chart in SOAPware, transfers the report and notifies the provider all automatically. HL7 labs are considered structured labs and will count towards the structured lab requirements for Meaningful Use.
Click Here for a list of Lab Systems that are compatible with SOAPwareXchangeHL7.
1. Log In to SOAPwareXchangeHL7
One clinic staff member must open and start the SOAPwareXchange HL7 program each day. To open and login to SOAPwareXchangeHL7, follow the steps below:
- Click the Windows Start menu.
- Select All Programs.
- Select the SOAPware folder.
- Click on SOAPwareXchangeHL7.
The SOAPware User Login window will appear. Enter your User ID and Password (same as your SOAPware login), then click the Log In button.
2. Start the HL7
The HL7 main screen will now open. To begin receiving HL7 messages for the day, you must start the HL7 process. To do this, simply click the Start button.
3. Check for Unmatched Patients
As HL7 messages are received throughout the day, the clinic staff should periodically check the status of messages that are being received.
If a message is received and SOAPware cannot identify the patient, a YES will appear in the box labeled "Messages queued for unmatched patients:".
If a YES appears in this box, follow the steps listed below to Match the patient.
- Click on the Mappings menu.
- Select Edit/View Unmatched Patients.
The Unmatched Patients window will appear with a list of patient who have not yet been Matched to a SOAPware chart. To match the patient with a SOAPware chart, follow the steps below:
- Highlight the patients name by clicking on it.
- Click the Map button. The Chart Rack window will appear.
- Find the appropriate patient within the Chart Rack, then double-click on the patients name to select it. This will match/map the incoming lab results with the patients SOAPware chart.
Close the Unmatched Patients window once all patients have been matched to a SOAPware chart using the steps above.
4. Check for Unmatched Physicians
As HL7 messages are received throughout the day, the clinic staff should periodically check the status of messages that are being received.
If a message is received and SOAPware cannot match the patient with a physician, a YES will appear in the box labeled "Messages queued for unmatched physicians:".
If a YES appears in this box, follow the steps listed below to match the physician.
- Click on the Mappings menu.
- Select Edit/View Unmatched Physicians.
The Unmatched Physicians window will appear with a list of patient lab results that have not yet been matched to a SOAPware physician. To match the patients lab results with a SOAPware physician, follow the steps below:
- Highlight the patients lab results line item to select it.
- Click the Map button. The Physician List window will appear.
- Select the appropriate physician, then click the OK button. This will match/map the incoming patients lab results with the appropriate SOAPware physician.
Close the Unmatched Physician window once all lab results have been matched to the appropriate SOAPware physician using the steps above.
5. Lab Results are Imported into Patient Charts
Once the lab results have been mapped to the appropriate patient and physician, the results will be imported directly into the patients chart.