vistarpc4r Tutorial 3: Lists (part one)

So now we have a running system, we can configure some basic elements, and we can add providers and patients.  What's next?
Well, VistA has a ton of data already loaded for you, so let's check it out.

Most things(objects) in VistA have an internal and external representation.  Basically this means each object has an internal id and a value.  The internal id is generally a positive integer(often referred to as an IEN or IFN or DFN).  The value is generally a human readable string.
Lists are returned as an array of string.
Here are the first bunch with Ruby code:

Providers

array = broker.call_a("ORQPT PROVIDERS")
puts array[0]  # outputs providerIEN^providername  e.g. 42^ USER,PHYSICIAN

Locations
Clinics - Outpatient

array = broker.call_a("ORWU CLINCLOC", ["", "1"])
puts array[0]  # outputs locationIEN^locationname e.g. 15^CARDIOLOGY

Wards - Inpatient

array = broker.call_a("ORQPT WARDS")
puts array[0] # outputs locationIEN^locationname e.g. 2^MED/SURG

Patients - There are many ways to get lists of patients.  Some examples:
By Ward

array = broker.call_a("ORQPT WARD PATIENTS", [wardIEN])
puts array[0] # outputs patientIEN^patientname  e.g. 17^SMITH,BETTY

All Patients

array = broker.call_a("ORWPT LIST ALL", ["", "1"])

This call returns a preset number of patients out of the list.  You need to use this call in a loop where you call the RPC additional times using the last array entry from the previous call as the first argument until it returns an array of size 0.

You can also get lists of patient by provider, appointment dates, teams, and others.  Let me know if you need help finding the RPCs

Problems
Problems use a search approach.

array = broker.call_a("ORQQPL PROBLEM LEX SEARCH", ["hypertension", "100", "", "0"])

Argument 1 is the term you are looking for
Argument 2 is the maximum number of matches
Argument 3 is something to do with view...leaving it blank
Argument 4 is the date to use for determining when problems were valid in the VistA system.

puts array[0]  # problemIEN^problemname^codename^codeIEN^code source
# for example:  60339^Hypertension *^401.9^2477^ICD-9-CM

Up next...medication lists, procedure lists, and other order lists.