3. Implementing an interface engine/connecting to an HIE. About six years ago, Riverview Hospital in Noblesville, Ind. decided to replace its EMR and patient financial system. During the process, CIO Michael Mover saw that the organization would be better off taking control of its own interfaces as well by implementing an interface engine. 

After embarking on a search for the perfect vendor, Riverview Hospital and its 27 interfaces came across NeoTool, better known today as Corepoint Health. Mover and his team had surveyed vendors prior to finding Corepoint, and the general consensus for 27 interfaces was two months of work. Corepoint promised two weeks. 

“What stunned me was the idea we could get this done in two weeks,” said Mover. “This is what I had dreamed of: interfaces becoming easy, because they had been a nightmare before. So I said, 'Name that tune,’ and in about seven days, we had about every interface finished.”

Riverview is also using the Corepoint Integration Engine to connect to the Indiana Health Information Exchange. Mover said since the organization partnered with Corepoint six years ago, it’s been self-sufficient. And in addition, the organization is one step ahead when it comes to the new medical device safety standards proposed by the FDA this past August. 

“Even though we don’t have to do those types of things in our interface engine, I wanted to find out what our options were,” said Mover. “So I called the folks at Corepoint and talked to them about it. I had mentioned it to them two years ago, and they said told me they already put it in; I have change controls and all those things already built into my interface engine.”

All in all, Mover said he’s happy that the technology “just works.” And for those considering an interface engine, Mover said support is everything. “I would rather have a mediocre product with great support than a great product with mediocre support,” he said. “I would say to bring on the one with the best support. And lastly, if you don’t own an interface engine, there’s no more economically beneficial investment you can make. It’s also a fast return on your investment.”