UNIX based client/server hospital information system

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Computer Science
• Information Systems

Background:

• St. Luke's Medical Center Information Linkage Environment (SMILE) is a client/server Hospital Information System (HIS).
• The system utilizes UNIX workstations on an open network (FDDI & 10BASE-T), offering a multivendor environment, high performance, low cost, and a user-friendly GUI.
• Existing client/server architectures on UNIX workstations lack the robust Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) environment found in mainframe systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the system problems encountered with the SMILE HIS.
• To document the steps taken to resolve these identified issues.
• To present key considerations for future client/server HIS implementations using UNIX workstations.

Main Methods:

• Review of system architecture and operational data for the SMILE HIS.
• Analysis of challenges related to the client/server model on UNIX workstations.
• Documentation of problem-solving strategies and implemented solutions.

Main Results:

• Identified limitations in the OLTP capabilities of the UNIX-based client/server HIS compared to mainframes.
• Successfully addressed system problems through specific troubleshooting and configuration adjustments.
• Developed a set of best practices and recommendations for future UNIX workstation-based HIS.

Conclusions:

• Client/server HIS on UNIX workstations present unique challenges, particularly in OLTP performance.
• Proactive problem identification and resolution are crucial for effective HIS implementation.
• The findings provide valuable insights for optimizing future health information systems leveraging similar architectures.