Salesforce Health Cloud Implementation

Here are the steps for integrating data from EHR systems into Salesforce Health Cloud –    

     1. Assessment and Planning  

The first step towards EHR data integration is carrying out a thorough assessment of an organization’s needs. Subsequently, identify the EHR system and the types of data to integrate. This may include patient demographics, medical history, medications, lab results, etc.   

     2. Choose Integration Method  

Determine the integration methods that best suit your organization’s requirements and the capabilities of the EHR system(s) –  

• API Integration – APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that allow for real-time data exchange  
• HL7 Integration – Health Level 7 (HL7) is a common standard for healthcare data exchange.  
• Batch Data Imports – The data transfer happens in pre-planned intervals    

      3. Data Mapping and Transformation  

Map the data fields and elements between the EHR system and Salesforce Health Cloud. Later, implement data transformation processes to convert data from one format to another to ensure system compatibility.    

     4. Authentication and Authorization  

Implement authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure only authorized users and systems can access and exchange patient data. This is vital to ensure HIPAA compliance.    

     5. Development and Integration  

Develop the integration code needed to establish the connection between the EHR system and the Salesforce Health Cloud.    

     6. Testing  

Carry out comprehensive testing of the integration, including the accuracy and integrity of the data, along with the system performance. Also, ensuring a seamless data flow between the EHR and the cloud platforms is vital.     

     7. Compliance  

This phase involves conducting tests to ensure that the integration complies with regulations and that the data is secure.     

     8. User-Training  

Train the users on properly using the cloud and the integrated EHR.  

Health Level 7 (HL7) is a set of international standards for exchanging, integrating, and sharing electronic health information in the healthcare industry. HL7 is important for integrating healthcare data with Salesforce Health Cloud by providing a standardized framework for data interchange between different healthcare systems.  Its role in healthcare integration includes –   

• Standardization of Data Formats  

HL7 defines standardized data formats and structures for various types of healthcare information, including patient demographics, medical records, laboratory results, and more.     

• Interoperability  

HL7 standards promote interoperability by enabling different healthcare systems, such as Electronic Health Records (EHR), laboratory information systems, and billing systems, to communicate and exchange data seamlessly.    

• Data Exchange Protocols  

HL7 defines data exchange protocols and messaging standards for medical data. The most widely used HL7 standard for messaging is HL7 Version 2 (HL7 v2). Salesforce Health Cloud can implement HL7 messaging protocols to send and receive healthcare data messages.    

• Structured Data Elements  

Structured data elements ensure that healthcare information exchanged through HL7 messages includes standardized and structured information. This is important for accurate interpretation and integration into the Salesforce Health Cloud.      

• Regulatory Compliance  

Integrating healthcare data using HL7 ensures that data exchange and integration efforts comply with these regulations, reducing the risk of non-compliance.  

Major security considerations when integrating healthcare data with Salesforce Health Cloud:  

• Regulatory Compliance  

The integration must comply with regulations like HIPAA that stipulate a certain level of data security. Violation of the regulation can result in serious legal consequences.   

• Encryption of Data  

The data transferred between systems must be encrypted to prevent unauthorized access.  

• Access Controls  

Implement strict access controls to ensure only authorized personnel can access the sensitive information.   

• Plan for Responding to Incidents  

This is a must for all types of organizations. A plan must be in place to respond to data breaches and cyber-attacks.  

• Data Backups and Recovery  

Data backup needs to be created in case of sudden loss due to disasters or system failures.  

• Audit Trails  

Audit trails create a trail of access and all system activities. It acts as a deterrence against unauthorized activity.   

• Periodic Security Testing  

Periodic security testing involves cybersecurity experts trying to breach the system to find and report vulnerabilities intentionally.   

Steps in establishing a secure API connection between Salesforce Health Cloud and a third-party healthcare application involve –   

     1. Define Integration Goals  

Identify the data to be integrated among the platforms and define the goals of the process.   

     2. Identify Authentication Mechanisms  

Determine the authentication and authorization mechanisms like OAuth 2.0, API keys, or token-based authentication for securing the API connection.   

     3. Review Regulations  

Any activity involving healthcare data would involve regulations. It is essential to review the latest regulations involving the integration and use of data.   

     4. Select API Integration Models  

Choose the appropriate API integration methods based on the capabilities of both systems. This could involve RESTful APIs, SOAP APIs, or other communication protocols.  

     5. Create API Credentials  

Generate API credentials, such as API keys or OAuth client credentials, for both Salesforce Health Cloud and the third-party application. These credentials are used for secure authentication.  

     6. Configure Salesforce Health Cloud  

In Salesforce Health Cloud, configure the API settings to enable external access and define the scope of data that can be accessed through the API.  

     7. Develop API Endpoints  

Develop API endpoints within Salesforce Health Cloud that expose the necessary data and functionalities for the integration. Implement proper access controls and data validation.  

     8. Establish Data Mapping and Transformation     

Define data mapping between Salesforce Health Cloud and the third-party application to ensure data is exchanged in a compatible format. Implement any necessary data transformations.  

     9. Authorization and Consent Management  

Implement authorization mechanisms to control which API users and systems have access. If patient data is involved, consider consent management processes to ensure compliance with data privacy regulations.  

     10. Test and Validate  

Conduct thorough testing of the API connection to ensure that data is exchanged accurately and securely.  

     11. Secure Data Transmission  

Implement secure data transmission protocols, such as SSL/TLS, to encrypt data in transit between Salesforce Health Cloud and the third-party application.  

     12. Deploy and Monitor   

Deploy the API connection in a production environment and continuously monitor its performance, security, and compliance. Implement a plan for handling updates and maintenance.  

• Standardizes Data Format  

FHIR defines standard data formats and structures for various types of healthcare data. This is the first step in enabling the exchange of information between systems. It paves the way for the development of integrated healthcare solutions.   

• Facilitates Interoperability  

FHIR enables two or more healthcare systems having varying data formats and standards to exchange data seamlessly.     

• Mapping and Transforming Data  

When two systems need to be integrated, FHIR assists with mapping the data fields in both. As a result, the data exchanged among them can be placed in their respective positions.     

• Use of APIs  

FHIR uses RESTful APIs for retrieving and sending data from/to diverse healthcare systems and applications.  

Salesforce Sales Cloud has a standard CRM data model includes objects like leads, accounts, contacts, opportunities, and products. Salesforce Health Cloud is designed to integrate with healthcare systems, electronic health records (EHRs), health information exchanges (HIEs), and other healthcare applications to exchange data.

Salesforce Sales Cloud integrates with various third-party applications and systems to support sales, marketing, and customer service workflows. But it also has a certain level of healthcare-specific integration capabilities.    

Salesforce Health Cloud takes a patient-centric approach, allowing healthcare providers to create detailed patient profiles, track patient interactions, and coordinate care. Salesforce Sales Cloud manages customer accounts and processes, emphasizing lead conversion, opportunity management, and tracking of sales pipelines. 

Here’s how Salesforce Health Cloud uses customization to meet the unique requirements of healthcare organizations:  

• Salesforce Health Cloud allows healthcare organizations to create custom objects and fields to capture and store healthcare-specific data.  
• Healthcare providers can create customized care plan templates to standardize and streamline patient care workflows.  
• Salesforce Health Cloud supports the creation of custom patient data models that allow healthcare organizations to capture and manage patient demographics, clinical data, social determinants of health (SDOH), and other relevant information.  
• Customization features enable healthcare organizations to create tailored workflows aligning with care coordination processes.  
• Salesforce Health Cloud allows the development of custom Lightning components to extend the platform’s functionality.  
• Customization features support the integration of Salesforce Health Cloud with various healthcare systems, including electronic health records (EHRs), health information exchanges (HIEs), and other healthcare applications.  
• Customization features allow healthcare organizations to define role-based access controls, ensuring only authorized users can view and modify sensitive patient data.  

Salesforce Shield is a suite of security and compliance features and functionalities designed to enhance data security and maintain compliance within Salesforce offerings, including Salesforce Health Cloud and other products. It contributes to data security by the following means –   

• Platform Encryption  

Salesforce Shield includes Platform Encryption, which allows you to encrypt sensitive data at rest across all Salesforce applications, including Salesforce Health Cloud.  

• Event Monitoring  

Event Monitoring, a part of Salesforce Shield, provides detailed event logs and audit trails of user activities within Salesforce applications, including Salesforce Health Cloud.  

• Field Audit Trail  

Field Audit Trail is a feature of Salesforce Shield that enables organizations to retain historical data changes for up to ten years.  

• Real-time Monitoring and Alerts  

Salesforce Shield offers real-time monitoring capabilities and the ability to set up alerts for specific security and compliance events, allowing organizations to respond promptly to potential threats or breaches.  

• Access Control and Permissions  

Salesforce Shield allows organizations to implement fine-grained access controls and permissions, ensuring that only authorized users can access sensitive patient data.  

• Compliance Controls  

Salesforce Shield includes a range of compliance controls and features, such as data loss prevention (DLP) policies, which can be tailored to meet healthcare-specific compliance requirements like HIPAA.  

• Encryption Key Management  

Salesforce Shield provides robust encryption key management, ensuring that encryption keys are securely stored and managed.  

• Establish comprehensive data governance policies and procedures defining data standards, ownership, validation rules, and stewardship responsibilities.  
• Define and implement validation rules that check for data consistency, completeness, and adherence to predefined formats.  
• Conduct regular data quality audits to identify and rectify inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and incomplete records.   
• Provide training and education to healthcare staff on data entry best practices, including the importance of accurate and complete data.  
• Implement role-based access controls (RBAC) to ensure only authorized users can modify specific data fields.  
• Enable audit tracking in Salesforce Health Cloud to log changes made to records and maintain a record of who made those changes.  
• Implement regular data backups and disaster recovery procedures to safeguard against data loss due to technical failures or data corruption.  

Data cleansing is correcting incomplete, duplicate, or otherwise erroneous data in a data set. Data deduplication is the process of eliminating duplicate or repetitive information within a data set. Both data cleansing and deduplication make the data more usable. Cleansing makes sure that everything is correct in the data. Inaccuracies and errors in data might lead to wrong diagnoses and treatments, endangering patient lives.    

Deduplication removes unnecessary, old, and duplicate information, helping to de-clutter the database. Both processes make the data usable and prevent any procedural, administrative, or clinical errors arising out of problems in the data.  

Salesforce Health Cloud provides features and capabilities to help healthcare organizations manage patient consent effectively while complying with data privacy regulations such as HIPAA. When it comes to consent management, Salesforce Health Cloud has a series of steps –   

• Consent Records: Salesforce Health Cloud allows organizations to create and maintain records for patient consent. These records capture detailed information about the patient’s consent preferences, including what data can be accessed, who can access it, and for what purposes.  
• Consent Capture: Healthcare providers can capture patient consent electronically through Salesforce Health Cloud’s user-friendly interface. Patients can be presented with consent forms and options to specify their data sharing and access preferences.  
• Consent Templates: Salesforce Health Cloud supports the creation of consent templates, which define standard consent terms and conditions.  
• Consent Tracking: The platform tracks patient consent status, including the type of consent given, the date of consent, and any updates or revocations.  
• Consent Preferences: Patients can specify their consent preferences, such as whether they allow sharing of their medical records with specific providers or for research purposes.