Introduction
Scheduling is one of the most critical (and most fragmented) workflows in healthcare. Providers rely on accurate appointment data to reduce no-shows, improve patient engagement, and coordinate care. But every EHR system handles scheduling differently. Some expose HL7 SIU feeds, others offer APIs, and many rely on custom or proprietary methods.
That complexity is why organizations come to Iguana. Our integration engine makes it possible to connect Epic, Cerner, Athena, eClinicalWorks, and dozens of other EHR systems to the platforms that need scheduling data, whether it’s a voice AI product, a telehealth app, or a patient engagement solution.
Here are real-world scheduling integration scenarios that Iguana solves every day.
Real-World Scheduling Scenarios
1. Integrating Cerner and Athena SIU Feeds into a Voice AI Platform
A software vendor wanted to power automated appointment reminders through their Voice AI system but couldn’t consume HL7 SIU messages directly from Cerner and Athena.
- How Iguana Helps: Iguana ingests HL7 SIU messages, normalizes the data, and delivers it as JSON to the vendor’s API.
- Impact: The vendor launched a scalable, HIPAA-compliant patient reminder solution that reduced no-shows and supported live call handling.
2. Aggregating Scheduling Data Across Multiple EHRs
A provider group needed a unified scheduling view across eClinicalWorks, Athena, and AdvancedMD.
- How Iguana Helps: Iguana connected to each EHR, normalized HL7 scheduling feeds, and mapped them into a consolidated data model.
- Impact: Providers gained real-time visibility into schedules across multiple platforms, improving resource planning and patient flow.
3. Connecting Scheduling Data to Provider Websites
Several vendors wanted to integrate appointment feeds from EHRs directly into patient-facing websites.
- How Iguana Helps: Iguana transforms HL7 SIU messages into RESTful APIs that websites can consume.
- Impact: Patients could book and manage appointments online without relying on phone calls, improving engagement and satisfaction.
4. Enabling AI-Driven Patient Engagement Platforms
A vendor building a white-label patient engagement app needed access to eClinicalWorks scheduling feeds.
- How Iguana Helps: Iguana securely routes and transforms scheduling data from eClinicalWorks into real-time updates for the engagement platform.
- Impact: Providers using the app could automate reminders and follow-ups without building custom EHR connections.
5. Coordinating ACO Scheduling Across Multiple EHRs
An Accountable Care Organization (ACO) needed to coordinate care across Epic, Cerner, NextGen, and ModMed.
- How Iguana Helps: Iguana integrated with each system’s scheduling feeds, normalized the data, and exposed a single stream for the ACO.
- Impact: Care teams gained a centralized scheduling view, improving coordination for patients who see multiple providers.
Other Scheduling Scenarios We’ve Solved
- Integrating Epic SIU feeds into SMS reminder systems.
- Feeding appointment data into telehealth platforms to auto-launch visits.
- Bridging HL7 scheduling messages into chatbot and AI call center platforms.
- Supporting multi-site provider groups that rely on a mix of EHRs.
Why Iguana Excels at Scheduling Integrations
- Broad Connectivity: Works with Epic, Cerner, Athena, eClinicalWorks, NextGen, Meditech, ModMed, and more.
- Multi-Format Support: Handles HL7 SIU, FHIR scheduling APIs, REST/JSON, and proprietary feeds.
- Secure: Monitor with ease with full message logging and auditing capability.
- Scalable: Proven in high-volume environments processing millions of messages per year.
- Fast to Deploy: Minimal coding effort compared to traditional middleware.
Conclusion
Scheduling integration is complex, but it doesn’t have to be a barrier. Iguana provides the flexibility to connect any EHR’s scheduling feed with modern applications for patient engagement, communication, and care coordination.
Ready to solve your scheduling integration challenge?
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