Managed Services Organization Modernizes its Data Application for Streamlined and Secure Operations

This managed services organization (MSO) connects healthcare providers with the necessary government funds and contracts for behavioral health services catering to the uninsured or those requiring uncovered care. Faced with coming changes at the state level – which will result in tripling of the number of users and amount of data they manage within the next year – the organization needed to replace its aging and outdated core business application and increase its reporting and analytics capabilities.

They came to Wavicle for help rebuilding their system using Azure and incorporating Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) as a backend to create a scalable and secure application for managing and analyzing clinical data and ensuring compliance with state contracts. 

Challenges with scalability and user base growth  

The MSO’s legacy system struggled to keep pace as the company scaled, and their technical teams feared that attempts to update and improve it could impact functionality. As a temporary solution, they created side applications for different programs, such as their substance abuse and crisis care programs. This approach left them with four different applications across five different programs, resulting in siloed data and fragmented reporting. 

In addition to system management challenges, the MSO lacked a dedicated reporting platform. Identifying the critical role of data-driven decision-making and the necessity for compliance and accuracy, especially in the context of the distribution of state funds, they needed the ability to better analyze and report on the substantial amounts of data they manage.  

Ever-changing state mandates added further complexity to this MSO’s journey. As an intermediary in the healthcare landscape, the company must navigate and adapt to frequent legislative changes, leading to constant adjustments in business roles and guidelines. 

Recognizing the need for a more integrated approach, this MSO selected Wavicle as a partner that brings Azure expertise, the ability to work with the healthcare industry’s FHIR standards, and an onshore/offshore model for flexible pricing. Wavicle helped the company embark on a strategic initiative to unify their disparate programs and the associated clinical data within a single, modern application that is built to scale with their business and adapt seamlessly to evolving healthcare regulations. 

Mastering integration challenges with pioneering solutions   

Wavicle experts started by conducting extensive interviews to explore the requirements for the MSO’s data, analytics, and reporting needs. The team established a thorough understanding of both business and technical requirements to design a solution that would meet the company’s goals. This information was then channeled into an Agile and iterative delivery approach, allowing for ongoing evaluation and ensuring the final product fully fit the MSO’s objectives.  

Transitioning into the rearchitecting and re-engineering phase, Wavicle experts leveraged the robust capabilities of Azure to craft a cloud-based web application and integrated the FHIR information network as a backend that provides a standardized framework for exchanging and sharing electronic healthcare information. Together, these elements offer secure data storage, efficient data exchange, and seamless communication among different health systems and applications. This architecture includes the Azure-managed FHIR API service, a cornerstone for redefining the backend and sourcing data for comprehensive data marts for reporting. 

In addition to ensuring functionality, this modernization included significant access and security initiatives. The FHIR backend houses clinical datasets for all five of the MSO’s programs, but the application’s users may only be qualified to access data from one or a few of those programs. This required sophisticated security and authorization models to prevent HIPPA violations and legal complications.  

Wavicle’s experts successfully streamlined this process, creating a more flexible model where all programs coexist within the same system for unified storage and reporting with customized access for different user types. Despite the complexity arising from diverse data attributes for each program, this new application simplified access management and eliminated the need for users to navigate multiple logins for different systems.  

Wavicle’s consultants also implemented Microsoft Power BI for enhanced reporting and data visualization capabilities. This implementation included building a data mart for self-service reporting, state reporting, and the electronic ingestion of data. The integration of Azure, Power BI, and SQL Server created a dynamic and robust data and analytics foundation tailored to the evolving needs of the MSO’s application.  

The impact of strategic technological integration 

The project’s outcomes proved transformative for the managed services organization. Through the consolidation of five distinct programs into a single, unified system, the company streamlined operations and eliminated duplicative processes. Furthermore, the new application offers centralized data storage and reporting, enabling the MSO to better understand and analyze their data and ensure compliance across all programs.  

The solution brings forth several advantages to the business, including enhanced scalability, streamlined operations, and the capacity for self-service analytics. Adopting Azure has fortified the organization with a secure and flexible infrastructure. In addition, embracing FHIR standards and services aligns with the vision of expanding care management services, positioning the business for future growth and adaptability in the evolving healthcare regulatory environment. Together with Power BI’s advanced reporting capabilities, these technologies have prepared the organization for an anticipated threefold increase in users over the next year. 

The MSO has also experienced substantial time savings by unifying applications, reducing the burdens of managing segmented systems and manual tasks like complaint handling and report combination. This operational efficiency saves time and mitigates the risk of potential errors associated with manual intervention.  

Ultimately, the MSO’s strategic collaboration with Wavicle streamlined its operations and ushered in a new era of efficiency, eliminating redundancies and manual processes and enhancing their overall effectiveness in the healthcare landscape.