Ivan - OpenVPMS 'projects' (see http://www.openvpms.org/projects ) are to do with making changes to OpenVPMS - hence the creation of the project is restricted to various individuals on the development team - though once created any register user can add comments.

However, if this case (as I understand it) Smart Flow will do some tweaks to their product to pull data from OpenVPMS.  In this case you do not need an OpenVPMS project. However, you probably do need to setup an OpenVPMS system so you can play with it. To do this download and install - probably best to grab the 1.8 Beta 2 release (see http://www.openvpms.org/ - scroll the page down to see its release announcement). This release is stable enough for you to play with (a number of practices have it in full production).  If you have any problems installing and firing it up, post to the Implementors forum at http://www.openvpms.org/forums/implementation/implementation . The installation documentation (see http://www.openvpms.org/documentation/csh/1.8/topics/install ) is pretty good. If you want a database containing sample data (so you have a setup that is ready to play with), yell and we can get you a dump of the system we use to get the screen shots for the documentation.

If I am wrong, and the integration will need to be two way - that is, SmartFlow will push updates back into OpenVPMS, then we do need an OpenVPMS project.  In this case the next step is to create the project. I or someone else can do this but we need a good project description (see say http://www.openvpms.org/project/selling-price-rounding as an example).  As you can see the description needs to be good enough so that the development team can price the OpenVPMS work that needs to be done.  The description tends to be updated as a result of the discussion comments. When evryone agrees on the description, the work is priced, and the status goes to 'seeking funding'.  When the money is received, work starts.

Note that there are in fact other ways of modifying OpenVPMS. Since the code is open source, you can grab it and hack at it to your hearts content. You can thus fork your own version with the SmartFlow integration.  However, I suspect that the preferred path is to enhance the standard release to have the SmartFlow integration. In this case, either the OpenVPMS team does the work (and it needs to be funded) or another team could do the work and submit the changes for inclusion within the standard OpenVPMS release. In this case the work needed from the OpenVPMS team is less and hence the required funding is less.

I hope that this clarifies things.

Regards, Tim G

Hi Everybody,

Thank you for all the directions given here!

Some of these things are just a little more technical than I can handle so I will get our CTO to have a look at it and decide on the strategy.

To answer your questions Adrian: Q. If we integrate billing. Will we have a system where when we add a billable item in OVPMS for example it appears on the flowsheet? I.e. If I add a PCV/TPP in OVPMS will it appear as a line in Smartflow? This would be very cool if it was the case.

This is exactly how it's done. During initial connection of the products we get inventory list from EMR and then you use the same items on Smart Flow.

Phase 1 integration allows you to create a patient on Smart flow (all devices, interfaces at the same time. Including a general whiteboard, iPads and on the web). This could also include automatic file attachment to OPVPMS at the end of hospitalization.

Phase 2 integration is a bit more comprehensive. It allows all the items to be billed for automatically at the time of treatment. You just put your initials, and SFS calculates (23kg*0.1mg/kg/10mg/ml=0.23ml). You will not see any of it, but the invoice in OPVMS will have a charge for this drug!

We suggest connecting with first phase of integration (in most VPMSs it took 3-5 days to have it done) and then begin working on the second phase.

I will talk to our CTO, and he will dig into documentation to suggest a solution.

P.S. Smart Flow can be opened on any device with web browser, but you do want a central TV connected to any computer and couple ipads to replace paper sheets (for portability). We do not have a native app for android yet.