HealthLink

HealthLink's configuration is stored in the hms_config.xml file. This is a file on the computer where HealthLink is installed, and it contains all the details of HealthLink's configuration. With that in mind, it's easiest to complete the following steps on the computer where HealthLink is installed.

1. Navigate to Open > Correspondence Log and click Configure HealthLink 
2. Enter your HealthLink identifier 
3. Select the Computer on which HealthLink is installed
4. Browse to the hms_config.xml file in the \HLINK folder (note: this may be on another computer in your network, in which case the folder would need to be shared across your network)
5. Click the Test button

To send letters to another practitioner via HealthLink, please ensure these prerequisites have been met in the intended recipient's Address Book entry:

1. Navigate to Open > Address Book and go to the Correspondence tab.
2. Enter the recipient’s HealthLink identifier 
3. Set the Preferred Method Communication to HealthLink 
4. Tick Include PDF in letters or Include RTF in letters 

Primary recipient

After writing a letter you intend to send via HealthLink, tick the Send via 3rd Party checkbox. Select the carrier from the drop-down menu (if it isn't already set in the recipient's Address Book record) and click Save to save and close the letter.

The provider can now go into Open > Outgoing Letters and review the letter. Once the letter has been reviewed, tick the Ready to Send checkbox and save the letter. This will export the letter in HL7 format into the ‘Outgoing’ folder that's configured in the hms_config.xml file.

CC recipients

CC letters can also be sent electronically if their Preferred Method of Communication has been specified in their Address Book record. This can be done by right-clicking on the CC and selecting Edit.

Tick Send and the letter will also be sent to the CC via the corresponding 3rd Party once it is saved.

You can still send CC letters via a 3rd party if the primary recipient does not have a 3rd party carrier. Tick the Send for the CC but leave the Send via 3rd Party un-ticked as this refers to the primary recipient only.

Once the letter has been reviewed, tick the Ready to Send checkbox and save the letter. This will export the letter to the appropriate outgoing folder ready for sending via HealthLink.

Correspondence log

Genie keeps a log of all outgoing and incoming letters so that you can see exactly when and on which computer any letter was imported or exported. The correspondence log can be accessed from the Administrator tab in the Maintenance and Reports window (File > Maintenance and Reports), or the Open menu. To view the log for an outgoing or incoming letter, double click on the record in the correspondence log.

Delivery confirmations

Genie expects that the recipient’s clinical or practice management application will create an acknowledgement file (ACK), which HealthLink will then return to you. When Genie imports the ACK, the Delivery Acknowledged button in the referral letter is automatically ticked (below).  The ‘ACK’ column in the Correspondence Log will also be ticked.  The recipient’s program, may be incapable of creating an ack, and/or HealthLink may be incapable of delivering one. Therefore, if you are not automatically receiving acknowledgement of delivery, please contact HealthLink or the intended recipient.

To send letters in PDF format, some additional setup is required on the Windows workstation where HealthLink is installed. Mac workstations require no further configuration.

Ghostscript

Viewing and generating PDF content in Genie on a Windows machine requires an additional program called GhostScript to be installed. Ghostscript is a free, third-party software application based on an interpreter for Adobe’s PostScript and Portable Document Format (PDF) page description languages.

For instructions on installing Ghostscript, refer to the Ghostscript article.

PostScript printer

A PostScript® compatible printer must be installed and available on the Windows client computer where HealthLink is installed. If unsure if the printer is PostScript® compatible, install a PDF writer such as PrimoPDF or similar