Evolution of a legacy system to a Web patient record server: leveraging investment while opening the system.

A layered system is under development to enhance our legacy system as a backend in a WEB-enabled system. Each layer of the system has defined functionality, leverages the investment in the layer below, and follows the strategy of reducing support requirements for workstations. The mainframe system provides administrative integration of sub-systems, security, and the central data repository for most information. The second layer is a graphical user interface (GUI) to the system for Windows platforms. Support needs are limited by relying chiefly on X-terminals and application servers. The "Intranet" layer is a WEB Server building upon the second layer gateways to provide platform-independent access to selected information and images. The fourth layer, under evaluation, will extend access to the central data repository for Internet users of web browsers that support private-key/public-key encryption.