Application Architecture
iMedX applications function on a 3-tier system. The client software, TurboScribe®, is a rich Java™ application which includes DLLs to support various digital recorders as well as JNI (Java Native Interfaces) to utilize standard Microsoft components on Windows machines.

The function of the client is to:

• Accept the secure login.
• Interface with the digital recorder that doctors dictate into.
• Use a store-and-forward mechanism to transfer dictated files securely to the server. Files are initially transferred from the recorder to the local desktop, and then transferred to the server.
• Perform various audit trail and logging functions.
• Interface with Microsoft Word to allow doctors to edit and otherwise enhance the transcripts.
• Provide a rich, easy-to-use GUI (Graphical User Interface) for the doctors to rapidly access and retrieve transcripts, including the ability to search by various criteria.
• Utilize the in-built Java media player to play back the original dictations, including the ability to slow down and fast-forward play.
• Ability to electronically sign-off on documents.
• Mechanisms to export transcripts into other systems

The iMedX Service is an Application Server. This component is written in Java™ and is platform-independent. Some features of the Application Server are:

• A command processor that takes commands from TurboScribe™ Client, executes the business logic, and delivers the data to the TurboScribe® Client through 128 bit SSL tunnel based on public – private key authentication mechanism.
• An HL7 engine to interface with other compliant systems
• Parser to extract key information from the transcripts to insert into the database
• Interfacing with other servers in the iMedX data center for various back-end functions including a fax server and a telephone dictation server
• TraffiCop – an intelligent distribution of dictation files to medical transcriptionists.
• Components to manage and convert dictation files of various formats (DSS, MuLaw, MP3)
• Other administrative functions

The iMedX Database server is a relational database that holds extensive information on the physicians, their dictations, and transcripts. There are various interfaces into the database for reporting and administrative functions in addition to providing the information for TurboScribe®.

The iMedX® servers utilize Windows 2000 and Linux. T-1 lines to the Internet, Robust archival, backup, and restore strategies are employed within the datacenter. Iron Mountain’s Digital Archiving and Electronic Vaulting service is utilized for off-site backup and recovery.

Security and Confidentiality

• The platform and the application are both implemented entirely in Java. which provides a "security sandbox" for all system accesses such as disk access, network access and access to other local resources.
• All network accesses are performed using standard Internet protocols (such as HTTP and HTTPS). This allows not only easy monitoring of network access but also provides a clear, long term path for future extensions, improvements.
• No external information is ever stored on local machines. Only the locally generated data (such as doctor's transcriptions) is stored on the client.
• Secure HTTP protocol (i.e, HTTPS) is used to send data from the client to the server. HTTPS is a Internet standard protocol for secure data transmission.
• Each user must login before he/she can use the application. The login process also uses secure HTTP (i.e, HTTPS). Therefore, unauthorized access by other users to the data is not possible.
• Since we use secure client software and not a browser, we are free from the constraints of browser security problems.
• Data within the TurboScribe® system is transported through 128 bit SSL tunnel based on public – private key authentication mechanism.