EHR Data Synchronisation
From PANACeA THIRRA
Contents |
DATA SYNCHRONISATION
Overview
Users can deploy offline mobile clinics that can later be synchronised with the main database. Data can only be synchronised in one direction, i.e. single master. Multi-master setup is not possible and it introduces data complications that are too risky to implement, especially for Electronic Health Records System. There can be multiple slaves, i.e. offline mobile clinics, that all share the same database although virtually, they are different clinics.
Initially, a copy of the main database is copied to the offline mobile server, e.g. netbook. The netbook will have exactly the same information as the main server, at that point of time. Users can take the netbook to other locations to be used as usual. Over time, the netbook will accumulate patient information that the main server will not have, such as new patients and consultations. These additions are flagged for synchronisation.
Periodically, the offline mobile clinics will be synched back to the master database. All data flagged for synchronisation are exported into XML files. The XML files are used to import the data into the master database.
There may be cases where users continue to use the main online server, while the netbook is being used elsewhere. These information remains on the server and are not exported. As all the new data from the netbook are imported into the master database, the master database has the most complete information for all locations. This updated database is now used as the new master seed file for future deployments.
The prepare for subsequent deployment, the netbooks will now use the new master seed file as its database, making it also the most complete database for the time being. Thus, the databases on the offline mobile servers are temporal by nature.
