Transaction processing using remote procedure calls (RPC) for a heterogeneous distributed clinical information system

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Health Informatics
• Distributed Systems

Background:

• Integrating disparate clinical information systems presents significant technical challenges.
• The need for seamless data exchange between heterogeneous computing environments in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of a distributed clinical information system at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
• To detail the implementation of a distributed model using interprocess communications.
• To showcase the application of remote procedure calls (RPC) for integrating diverse computer systems.

Main Methods:

• Development of a distributed clinical information system integrating UNIX, IBM MVS/CICS, and MUMPS.
• Utilization of interprocess communications over Ethernet for distributed application development.
• Implementation of Sun Microsystems' Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and External Data Representation (XDR) protocols.

Main Results:

• Successful integration of functionally diverse computer systems into a unified clinical information system.
• Demonstration of RPC as a viable protocol for developing distributed applications in complex environments.
• Establishment of a standardized approach to distributed application development using subroutine call metaphors.

Conclusions:

• The implemented distributed model effectively integrates heterogeneous clinical information systems.
• Remote procedure calls provide a robust and standardized method for inter-system communication in healthcare IT.
• The developed system offers a scalable solution for clinical information management.