HMS Plus Interface with Siemens UniPOC Database

Hi Kimberly,
We are interfacing our HMS's to Telcor.  It has been a challenge.  We are doing that using Lantronix boxes as well. We did have some discussion in the beginning about making sure the correct Y cables were used so that one port was for the barcode scanner and the other for the Lantronix, but all ours looked ok.  However as we went along in the project, one of our HMS's was not communicating like the others and it ended up being a loose cable within the HMS itself.  Service came and figured that out in a couple days.  Now it seems to be interfacing fine.  We had involvement from the Telcor side and the Medtoronic side to assist.

Thanks for your response Miranda!  I will bring up use of the y-cable again in my next meeting.  I insisted on using the Y-cable when we first began this interfacing project because we absolutely need to be able to use the barcode scanner to eliminate errors due to manual entry of information.  After many failed attempts to get the device to communicate properly to the UniPOC database via the Lantronix box, Siemens suggested that my IT team disconnect it and to plug the Lantronix box directly into the back of the analyzer - we went from seeing transmission of results (albeit embedded with gibberish characters) to now only gibberish.  I will also make sure to mention the problem you had with one HMS having a loose cable on the inside.  This project has gone from very exciting to exhausting and prolonged.  I definitely appreciate your input!

Ok I have more info for you about the gibberish!  We had that issue as well with the 1 HMS that I mentioned had the loose cable. It was sending characters with the results. It was a cable inside the analyzer that the service tech had to get to.  Service worked with their engineers on figuring that out.  Once that was reseated correctly, it started communicating correctly.  

Thank you so much Miranda, I will reach out to Medtronic service!  Do you mind sharing which Lantrinox model you're using? We started with the UDS2100, then purchased the UDS1100 when we got the gibberish characters. We also tried an EDS model that we found in between attempts that didn't work.

We only used the UDS2100.

if you want to email me directly, feel free - miranda.cotter@mercy.net and my phone number is 314-251-1436

Kimberly, Did you ever get the HMS' connected? I am in your current situation and trying to interface HMS. We have several IS teams engaged, Telcor, and Medtronic and are unable to connect the HMS using the Lantronix. If you were successful, was there something in particular that you ended up doing?

Christin, unfortunately I got no resolution on this project.  After 8 months of work, my OR department decided that they no longer wanted to move forward with interfacing and also discontinued use of the HMS.  The next step would have been getting Medtronic to come in to inspect the internal cables that Miranda mentioned above.  The project was discontinued before we could schedule.

Christin - we succesfully interfaced our HMS's to Telcor using Lantronix. It was a challenge!  We had to make sure the Lantronix devices had the correct settings and we had 1 box that was a lemon so we had to get another one.  We worked with Telcor extensively once that was all ready to go.  Tell your Telcor contact to look up our case?  Maybe there will be some insight.  Mercy Hospital St. Louis.

Thank you, Miranda,

On Friday, I was finally able to get it connected (hooray!). For us the issue seems to be with the splitter that connects the barcode scanner and Lantronix. Still some troubleshooting to do as the integration only works when just the Lantronix is plugged in. I will ask if our Telcor analyst can look into your integration though.. Thank you!!