Parchariyanon S, Asavanant K, Srisiriratanakul S, Tongtaweechaikit C, Theera-Ampornpunt N, Okaschareon C, Ungkanont A. Implementation of Thailand’s first prototype for exchanging of laboratory results using HL7 version 3 and LOINC. Poster session presented at: Informatics: Transforming Health and Healthcare. AMIA 2012 Annual Symposium; 2012 Nov 3-7; Chicago, IL.

1. Implementation of Thailand’s First Prototype for Exchanging of
Laboratory Results Using HL7 Version 3 and LOINC
Supachai Parchariyanon, MD, MBI, Kavin Asavanant, MSc, Sireerat Srisiriratanakul, BSc, Chaiwiwat Tongtaweechaikit, Bsc, MBA,
Nawanan Theera-Ampornpunt, MD, PhD, Chusak Okaschareon, MD, PhD, Artit Ungkanont, MD
Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Abstract Methods
The adoption of international standards in Thailand is limited, • We implemented a prototype using HL7 V3 and LOINC to exchange
and few successful demonstrations of health information lab results data between Mahidol University’s Faculty of Medicine
exchange (HIE) implementations using these standards have Ramathibodi Hospital and a clinic at Siam Cement Group (SCG).
been reported. We implemented real-world exchange of laboratory • The clinic, which provided medical care to the company’s staff, was
results between a teaching hospital and a partnering private clinic staffed by physicians from the Faculty. The physician would place a lab
using HL7 version 3 and LOINC. The implementation demonstrates order for the patient, and the patient would come to the hospital for
the first documented successful information exchange and the specimen to be collected and analyzed. Lab results would be sent
serves as a feasible prototype that should be useful for back electronically to the clinic for follow-up visits.
Thailand’s larger scale HIE implementations. • Lab results were reported to the clinic using HL7 V3 Message and HL7
RIM as well as LOINC. The results would then be displayed in the clinic’s
local system.
Introduction • Lab results were successfully sent and received using the adopted
standards.
• HL7 V3 has limited adoption globally, and especially in developing
countries like Thailand. LOINC also has limited adoption in
Thailand. This creates a challenge for large-scale HIE in settings Conclusion
where no existing standard is prevalent. Steps
• Having an HIE prototype using international standards that 1. The physician logs in to the clinic’s application to request lab results. • This project demonstrated the feasibility of using international standards
could exchange actual health information would provide a real-world 2. He selects the patient and clicks a request lab button. like HL7 V3 and LOINC to facilitate exchange of laboratory information.
proof-of-concept that demonstrates the feasibility and usefulness 3. The application sends a patient’s data in CSV file format to Ramathibodi’s system • It serves as a critical first step toward interoperability for Thailand.
of these standards on HIE via web service. • Future efforts to demonstrate and report information exchange in
• This prototype would serve as a building block for the country’s 4. Ramathibodi’s system searches lab results from database. other healthcare domains and in other settings in the country are
path toward HIE. 5. The system generates a message in HL7 V3 format, using LOINC. encouraged to build the momentum toward a large-scale interoperable
6. SCG’s application gets the HL7 V3 message via web service. HIE.
7. SCG’s application inserts data from HL7 V3 message into its database.