Oasis has the following distinguishing features that differentiate it from other products in the market place.

• Ability of the Applications to run in a modular manner to suit the requirement of varying sizes of hospitals (Application Adaptability)
• Ability of the Applications to run across a variety of different hardware platforms [Application Portability].
• Ability to communicate across hospitals at the application level so that information can be accessed from anywhere within the network [Application Level Connectivity].
• Ability to physically hold the data wherever it is most appropriate from the data management point of view [Distributed Databases].
• Ease-of-Use of the Software with automated and flexible user interface [End User Interface].
• Support for Arabic language.

The following sections consider the above issues in more detail:

• GENERAL FEATURES
• FUTURE PLANS

APPLICATION ADAPTABILITY

The features and functionality required would vary from hospital to hospital depending on the size and specialty of the hospital. Oasis applications are fully modular and highly flexible so that only relevant modules can be implemented in each hospital. This also permits implementation in a phased manner within a hospital.

The Oasis System is comprehensive, offering a wide range of Clinical, Financial and Administrative sub-system facilities. At the same time, the System is modular in design, with modules addressing specific functional requirements. It is possible to implement individual modules on stand-alone basis and integrate with other modules as and when they come on-line. All the Oasis modules integrate into a cohesive and robust system.

APPLICATION PORTABILITY

It is possible to port the Software across various computers regardless of power, capacity and type of operating systems used - from large system through minicomputers to microcomputer networks.

It is also possible to port data from one hardware platform to another. This has significant benefits as explained below.

A Laboratory System requires a lot of initial set up consisting of defining various tables like test codes, reference ranges, quality control criteria, work list formats, etc. This is a time consuming process requiring a lot of thought and effort from the supervisory staff. If this initial set up data can be transported to another site along with the application, it would eliminate a lot of effort while setting up the laboratory application in each and every hospital. This would bring in a high degree of standardization and uniformity in the operations of hospitals.

APPLICATION LEVEL CONNECTIVITY

On-line access to patient past medical history not only improves the quality of treatment but also reduces the cost of patient care by minimizing repetitive treatment. This can be achieved if there is efficient application level connectivity across computer systems. Oasis provides application level connectivity.

Such a level of connectivity eliminates delays and inaccuracies normally associated with telephone or paper based communication. The improved turnaround time associated with functions such as referral appointments and laboratory reports will result in better health care.

END USER INTERFACE

The approach to computerization and use of computer systems is changing very rapidly. In a nutshell, it is bringing end users closer and closer to computers by providing direct interfaces to the organizational databases. Once the database is conceived and set up end users could manipulate them to suit their needs. With Oasis , a wide range of tools are available that provide automated and flexible data entry interfaces, ad-hoc query facilities, report writer facility and interfaces to graphical and statistical packages for data analysis and presentation.

The following facilities are available to the user to aid in data input:

1) There is 'Help' line at the TOP of the screen, which displays information about each ICON in the screen when the user navigates to that ICON.

2) While the user is navigating through the fields, which have a lot of possible values as option, a 'List of Values' allows for selection from the list.

3) The user can activate a Background Menu from any of the functions to shortcut the navigation process through the Menu Tree. This allows the use of frequently used screens while using a particular function.

4) An alert message box is provided which pops up when options are available. This ensures that selected option are known and defined eg., ok, yes, no, etc. are doubly confirmed to avoid loss of data.

5) The Reports can run in the background using scheduler that allows the user to produce reports on predefined time and date in future, without interrupting his regular duties.

ARABIZATION

An integrated Hospital Information System has an impact on the entire hospital, as clerical, administrative, paramedical and medical staff will use it. The envisaged software should have bilingual capabilities to store patient demographic data and other administrative details in English and Arabic. Oasis having been developed in the Middle East is capable of providing bilingual facilities.

It is envisaged that the medical information will be in English whereas the demographic and administrative information should have bilingual capabilities. The system must permit query and printing of certain information in both languages as chosen by the user.

The minimum Arabic requirement would be:

• Allow entry of demographic data in Arabic and English
• Allow maintenance of code descriptions in both English and Arabic
• Allow name entries in both English and Arabic
• Display Names and code descriptions in English and Arabic
• Printing of Patient ID Cards, Visit Sheets, Pharmacy labels in both English and Arabic
• On reports containing items stored in both English and Arabic, the user will have the choice of choosing either English or Arabic.
• Oasis has the facility even to translate medical terminology and names of medications etc.

OTHER FEATURES

Other Oasis features that would be of consideration to the user are:

• Prototyping facility
• Ease of Maintenance
• Data Security and confidentiality
• On-line transaction processing for quick response
• Availability of local expertise and support.

AD-HOC QUERIES

Any hospital is a very dynamic environment and the information needs of Clinicians vary considerably. Hence users need extensive facilities to manipulate data in easy and quick manner. By using SQL and related Query tools, facilities are available to interrogate the database by means of user definable queries.

USER DEFINABLE CODES

Each module contains user-controlled tables [code and description], which define the various types of basic data. The size and structure of these codes is user definable. Change or deletion of these codes is controlled to prevent inconsistent data.

CODE LOOK UP FACILITY

During data entry the user has the option to display the list of codes and descriptions and then select the appropriate code from the list.

AUTOMATION OF DATA CAPTURE

Within the system, emphasis is given to minimal keyboard data entry and rapid responses. Automated data capture is such as bar code readers, inter-faces to on-line analyzers and image scanners.

SPREADSHEET AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS CAPABILITY

A spreadsheet and statistical analysis capability with interfaces to files maintained by application systems is available. It is possible to download the required data from the central database to the relevant packages for further analysis.

MENU DRIVEN APPROACH

The system is menu based with a flexible and easy to use menu generator to meet the system implementation requirements.

ACCESS TO THE APPLICATION

A password is required to gain entry into the Application System and authorization levels required to perform any action. Authorization codes are set up and modified only by the System Administrator. Passwords are not displayed on the screen when they are entered.

Authorization can be at various levels including.

• The ability to enter, change, inquire and delete
• The ability to only enter data
• The ability to only inquire
• The ability to print data.
• Order and dispense medication of various categories
• Financial - authorization of functions
• Other function as defined by users
• Users jobs
• Fields and icons display

DOCUMENTATION

The software is accompanied by comprehensive documentation. The documentation available for each module is simple and easy to use. Each module has the following documentation:

1) User Manual

2) Training Manual.

The User Manual presents the functionality of the module. An overview of the module is given along with the Menu tree structure. Each function is explained in detail in terms of the screen operations and the data to be input on each screen. Wherever appropriate, the manual presents examples to further clarify situations.

The Training Manual describes the step by step approach to process functions.., It describes the sequence of executing the initial set up functions, the master codes set up functions, the transactions, period end and purging functions. The installation instructions are also specified in this manual. The complete set of error messages, their cause and recommended actions are detailed.

Future releases of Oasis will have on-line documentation.

INTEGRITY AND CONSISTENCY OF DATABASE

Oasis modules provide simultaneous record retrieval access to any number of users. However, the record is locked to prevent concurrent updating, when accessed for any type of modification. The system has routines to ensure the integrity of logical transaction units, across distributed database available in same or different locations.

MIRRORING

Any hospital needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week uninterrupted computer service. This necessitates maintenance of two live copies of critical applications AND data on different disk drives, preferably on two separate computer systems. During normal run, the system update both the copies but have the capability to continue to run, should any one of them fail.

The system also has recovery routines to bring the failed data files to the current status, without affecting the user service.

TRANSACTION LOGGING AND RECOVERY

The system has the facility to log all transactions. Recovery routines to restore the database to the original status by using the previous backup and applying the records from the transaction log files in a logical manner are available. Note that this option will be used as a last resort, only when both the live and the duplicate data files become unusable.

CONTINUOUS UPDATING & IMPROVEMENTS IN FUNCTIONALITY

Oasis functionality and features are being continuously improved on an on-going basis to provide the best value to the Hospital. It is also proposed to add on additional modules in the future to widen the scope of the Hospital Information System. BALSAM maintains a separate dedicated team of Consultants to look specifically into the Medical and Financial areas.

UPGRADES TO NEWER VERSIONS OF DATABASE SOFTWARE, GUIs ETC:

Currently Oasis is based on Oracle Version 9i. The new version has improved performance and takes full advantage of the advances in communications technology, local area networks and cooperative server technology. Oasis applications will already upgraded to use the power and features of Oracle Version 9i and associated development tools available under the new version.

Graphical User Interfaces available to give the user the added benefit of easy system operations.

USE OF IMAGING TECHNOLOGY

Imaging can be used effectively in the Hospital environment to streamline the workflow within the Hospital. There are a number of areas where the key input of data is time-consuming and can affect the productivity of Doctors, Nurses and other staff. In the outpatients department, the old Doctors Notes, old Prescriptions and old Orders written by the Doctor on hard copies so that they are stored on the system in image format and also directly routed to the concerned departments to take the necessary action. Similarly all old inpatients orders can be scanned at the Nurse Station and routed to the concerned departments for action. Medical information relating to a patient such as X-rays, CT Scans etc. can also be stored as images.

Oasis is already integrated with imaging technology with the database technology for the hospital environment.