GSoC Week 11: A Journey of Refinement and Innovation in FHIR2 Module

Introduction:

Greetings, fellow enthusiasts of healthcare technology and data interoperability! The journey through Google Summer of Code (GSoC) continues, and as I step into the 11th week, I find myself in the midst of a captivating process of refining and innovating within the OpenMRS FHIR2 module. Building upon the foundations laid in the previous week, I'm excited to share the progress made and the steps taken to enhance the attribute-to-contact-point configuration process. Join me as we explore the intricacies of this journey of refinement and innovation!

A Continuation of Progress:

Week 11 has been a seamless continuation of the work initiated in the previous week. With the guidance of my mentor, I have been actively engaged in refining the pull request initiated in week 10 (https://github.com/openmrs/openmrs-module-fhir2/pull/517). This pull request addresses a critical aspect of configuring attributes as contact points, focusing on ensuring the uniqueness of the combination of attribute_type_domain and attribute_type_id.

Unique Combinations: The Logic Behind the Scenes:

One of the key challenges when dealing with attributes as contact points lies in preventing the duplication of data. This week, the spotlight has been on devising logic that ensures each combination of attribute_type_domain and attribute_type_id remains unique. This logic is essential to maintain data integrity and prevent conflicts within the system.

Suggested Approach: Loading and Updating Existing Values:

To tackle this challenge, a suggestion has been made to load the existing value for a specific combination and update it if it already exists. This approach leverages the power of data retrieval and manipulation to efficiently manage attribute-to-contact-point configurations. By employing this technique, we ensure that the uniqueness constraint is upheld while providing a seamless experience for users and administrators.

Below is the snippet i added to address the changes suggested by my mentor.

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@Override public FhirContactPointMap saveFhirContactPointMap(@Nonnull FhirContactPointMap contactPointMap) { FhirContactPointMap existingContactPointMap = (FhirContactPointMap) sessionFactory.getCurrentSession().createQuery( "from FhirContactPointMap fcp where fcp.attributeTypeDomain = :attribute_type_domain and fcp.attributeTypeId = :attribute_type_id") .setParameter("attribute_type_domain", contactPointMap.getAttributeTypeDomain()) .setParameter("attribute_type_id", contactPointMap.getAttributeTypeId()).uniqueResult(); if (existingContactPointMap != null) { existingContactPointMap.setSystem(contactPointMap.getSystem()); existingContactPointMap.setUse(contactPointMap.getUse()); existingContactPointMap.setRank(contactPointMap.getRank()); sessionFactory.getCurrentSession().merge(existingContactPointMap); return existingContactPointMap; } else { sessionFactory.getCurrentSession().saveOrUpdate(contactPointMap); return contactPointMap; } }

Let's break down the code and discuss its functionality:

Explanation:

• The method takes a `FhirContactPointMap` object (`contactPointMap`) as a parameter and returns a `FhirContactPointMap` object.
• The code queries the database to check if there is an existing `FhirContactPointMap` with the same `attributeTypeDomain` and `attributeTypeId`. This is done using Hibernate's Query Language (HQL).
• If an existing map is found, its `system`, `use`, and `rank` values are updated with the values from the `contactPointMap` parameter. The `merge` method is used to update the existing entity.
• If no existing map is found, the `saveOrUpdate` method is used to either save a new `contactPointMap` or update an existing one, based on its state.

This method essentially checks whether a given `FhirContactPointMap` already exists in the database based on the specified attributes (`attributeTypeDomain` and `attributeTypeId`). If it exists, the method updates its values; otherwise, it creates a new entry or updates an existing one.

Mentorship and Collaboration: Navigating Complex Challenges:

As with any intricate technical challenge, mentorship and collaboration have played a pivotal role in navigating through the complexities. My mentor's insights and guidance have been invaluable in devising the most effective and elegant solutions. Collaborative discussions and code reviews have provided fresh perspectives and refined the implementation, aligning it with best practices and the standards of the OpenMRS community.

The Road Ahead: Beyond Configuration:

As week 11 draws to a close, I'm filled with a sense of accomplishment and eagerness for what lies ahead. The journey of refining and innovating within the FHIR2 module is a testament to the spirit of continuous improvement and the drive to enhance healthcare data interoperability. Beyond attribute-to-contact-point configuration, this experience underscores the broader mission of GSoC – to contribute to meaningful solutions that impact patient care and healthcare technology.

Conclusion:

Week 11 has been a captivating chapter in the GSoC journey, marked by diligent refinement and the pursuit of innovative solutions. The process of ensuring unique combinations of attributes within the FHIR2 module represents a microcosm of the larger goal – to create a more connected, efficient, and effective healthcare ecosystem.

As I look ahead to the final weeks of GSoC, I'm invigorated by the progress made and inspired by the collaborative spirit that drives the OpenMRS community. Join me as we continue to push the boundaries of healthcare technology and explore new frontiers in the quest for excellence.

Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey. Until next time, let's keep pushing forward and making a positive impact!