KEYWORDS:
Dot-Net, ASP, HL-7, Web Services, XML, Mobile device, Speech and Pen-based interface.
BACKGROUND:
In 1995, Contra Costa County Health Services, CA, developed CCAIR (Contra Costa Automated Immunization Registry) with client/server Windows GUI in Visual Basic. In late 2001, with the advancement of development tools and widespread acceptance of the Internet, the department decided to rewrite the application, now called e-CCAIR 4.0, using Microsoft’s latest development platform – dot-NET.
OBJECTIVE:
To gain hands-on experience and practical knowledge on Microsoft’s latest technologies. This would result in bringing a new web version of CCAIR, improving on data access speed, HL-7 connectivity via web services, and supporting mobile devices.
METHOD:
Using the existing version as a guide and the new Visual Studio.Net compiler, an entire new set of program codes was written. Both web-based and Windows-based versions were created but both made use of many shared data components.
RESULT:
The functionalities of the existing CCAIR were retained in eCCAIR, while simultaneously addressing many of its previous deficiencies.
Among the added benefits are: much faster web pages (ASP) due to compilation, shortened development timeframe, simplified deployment, improved data access via XML and web services, support for mobile devices, and new alternatives of speech and pen-based inputs.
CONCLUSION:
eCCAIR 4.0 is an innovative showcase of the possibilities with Microsoft’s new dot-NET tool, a very rich development environment. Due to the positive experience of the past two years, dot-NET has become our programming method of choice.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
To understand new functional requirements of immunization registries and learn cutting-edge technologies that can be applied to improve them.
Handout (.doc format, 46.0 kb)
Handout (.ppt format, 110.0 kb)
Back to The Future is Now: Emerging Technologies
Back to The 2003 Immunization Registry Conference (October 27-29, 2003)