Integrating laboratory testing results at Point-of-Care in Hospital@Home care settings: A FHIR-based approach

The care model Hospital@Home offers hospital-level treatment at home, aiming to alleviate hospital strain and enhance patient comfort. Despite its potential, integrating digital health solutions into this care model still remains limited. This paper proposes a concept for integrating laboratory testing at the Point of Care (POC) into Hospital@Home models to improve efficiency and interoperability.

Methods : Using the HL7 FHIR standard and cloud infrastructure, we developed a concept for direct transmission of laboratory data collected at POC. Requirements were derived from literature and discussions with a POC testing device producer. An architecture for data exchange was developed based on these requirements.

Results : Our concept enables access to laboratory data collected at POC, facilitating efficient data transfer and enhancing interoperability. A hypothetical scenario demonstrates the concept’s feasibility and benefits, showcasing improved patient care and streamlined processes in Hospital@Home settings.

Conclusions : Integration of POC data into Hospital@Home models using the HL7 FHIR standard and cloud infrastructure offers potential to enhance patient care and streamline processes. Addressing challenges such as data security and privacy is crucial for its successful implementation into practice.