CHS BizTalk Server 2006 Data Integration
Infostrat helped Comprehensive Health Services, Inc. (CHS) deploy Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 as a middleware engine to process, manage, and track data from multiple clients in multiple formats to a centralized database and then process the information into specific formats required to report the information to different clients. CHS hired Infostrat to develop two of their existing data interfaces as a proof of concept to evaluate the suitability of BizTalk for handling their data management needs. BizTalk exceeded customer expectations and, as a result, what was initially started as a pilot is in production and being used now.
BACKGROUND
Comprehensive Health Services, Inc. (CHS) is a medical company specializing in workforce health management. CHS partners with employers to reduce health care costs and address health and safety as strategic business issues. CHS provides onsite health services for an organization’s employees and needs a way to easily move data from systems located at the employers to a centralized system and with the flexibility to modify requirements as environmental variables change. CHS had a custom inflexible automated process for consolidating information but this made it difficult to implement new requirements as business conditions changed. CHS needed a system that was configurable and modifiable without extensive programming to address new customers being added and changing requirements.
PROBLEM
CHS managed medical exam scheduling, drug test scheduling, and billing electronically through SQL Server 2000 Data Transformation Services (DTS) packages. These packages parse, validate, and coordinate the information as it flows into and out of CHS’s internal database systems. This existing process was error prone and there was little information available when exceptions occurred. The many DTS packages were difficult to manage and were always conflicting with each other. There was little flexibility in the DTS Packages. Changes would require a developer and SQL Server administrator to rewrite TSQL and VB Script. Changes to one DTS package would frequently cause all DTS packages to fail in the old system.
Some of the key requirements for a new approach included: Rapid data migration and reliable application of business rules. Easy to use interface with business processes clearly outlined and easily configurable. Scalable and high performance. Works with commercially popular development tools.
Business ProfileComprehensive Health Services, Inc. (CHS) Solution at a GlanceCHS deployed Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 as a middleware engine to process, manage, and track data from multiple clients in multiple formats to a centralized databaseTechnologies InvolvedBizTalk Server 2006 SOLUTIONInfostrat built the new BizTalk implementation by re-creating the two customer interfaces using recommended BizTalk development principles to optimize the flexibility of the architecture so the interfaces can be modified largely through configuration rather than solely with costly software development. Where possible, Infostrat consultants used readily available BizTalk components and .NET development techniques to create a flexible and extensible version of the interface. The following two processes were chosen and BizTalk orchestrations were developed for each. Both systems are now used in the production environment and have replaced and enhanced the old processes. Immigration Services Exams The new BizTalk process is now in production and has automated much of the previous manual labor required to insert exam and testing information into the CHS database systems. In the new BizTalk system, exceptions are logged and status reports are sent via email to various managers. When new import files arrive at the pickup folder location, BizTalk picks them up, validates fields, verifies business rules are met, inserts data, and notifies managers via an emailed summary report. Exception details are collected and reported in an attachment to this email report. United States Postal Service (USPS)The new EBuy BizTalk process creates X12 billing (855) and X12 Acknowledgement (857) messages and securely transports them to the electronic systems at the USPS. The messages are encrypted in a custom pipeline component that was created by Infostrat. This custom pipeline component can be inserted into any message stream that runs in the BizTalk process and can be configured easily by setting properties that control the keys and algorithms used by the encryption process. ___________________________ These case studies are provided to illustrate the capabilities of Infostrat in delivering solutions on the Microsoft platform. They do not represent an endorsement of Infostrat or Microsoft Corporation by the customer.
SOLUTIONInfostrat built the new BizTalk implementation by re-creating the two customer interfaces using recommended BizTalk development principles to optimize the flexibility of the architecture so the interfaces can be modified largely through configuration rather than solely with costly software development. Where possible, Infostrat consultants used readily available BizTalk components and .NET development techniques to create a flexible and extensible version of the interface.
The following two processes were chosen and BizTalk orchestrations were developed for each. Both systems are now used in the production environment and have replaced and enhanced the old processes.
Immigration Services Exams The new BizTalk process is now in production and has automated much of the previous manual labor required to insert exam and testing information into the CHS database systems. In the new BizTalk system, exceptions are logged and status reports are sent via email to various managers. When new import files arrive at the pickup folder location, BizTalk picks them up, validates fields, verifies business rules are met, inserts data, and notifies managers via an emailed summary report. Exception details are collected and reported in an attachment to this email report.
United States Postal Service (USPS)The new EBuy BizTalk process creates X12 billing (855) and X12 Acknowledgement (857) messages and securely transports them to the electronic systems at the USPS. The messages are encrypted in a custom pipeline component that was created by Infostrat. This custom pipeline component can be inserted into any message stream that runs in the BizTalk process and can be configured easily by setting properties that control the keys and algorithms used by the encryption process.
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These case studies are provided to illustrate the capabilities of Infostrat in delivering solutions on the Microsoft platform. They do not represent an endorsement of Infostrat or Microsoft Corporation by the customer.