The Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, a leader in cancer care in Slovenia, is taking a bold step forward in digital healthcare by embracing a postmodern approach to electronic health records (EHR). This initiative will modernise the Institute’s digital infrastructure, delivering a unified, patient-centric ecosystem that integrates clinical, administrative, and operational workflows.
This project, due to be implemented over the next two years, is an important milestone for the Institute of Oncology as it builds its EHR system from the ground up in collaboration with several vendors. It is supported by a multi-tiered, modular architecture that uses openEHR for clinical data and FHIR for operational data. By adopting the postmodern approach, the Institute is revolutionising its operations and setting a new standard for digital health innovation in Slovenia and beyond.
A platform-based transformation
Central to the Institute of Oncology’s vision is implementing the Better digital health platform, which includes core components such as the Clinical Data Repository (CDR), Operational Data Repository (ODR), EHR Studio, and Clinical Portal. Together, these components form the foundation of a modular, flexible ecosystem that will support all aspects of the Institute’s operations, from patient administration to clinical care and research.
The Institute has also partnered with a Slovenian partner, 3FS, a software development company, to design and implement a new modern Patient Administration System (PAS) that runs natively on the Better platform and stores, updates, and reads data in real-time from openEHR and FHIR repositories. 3FS will complement the clinical modules that the Institute already uses to support clinical processes such as Better Meds, eObservations, Clinical noting, Nutrition management, Order coms, etc. With openEHR and FHIR standards, the Institute of Oncology is creating a robust, interoperable framework that will enable data availability, sharing, and collaboration across systems and vendors.
Unified user experience
One of the most innovative aspects of this initiative is the focus on providing clinicians and administrative staff with a unified, user-friendly experience and a unified patient record. By embedding Better’s clinical modules – such as medications management, nursing, nutrition, and order communications – directly into the PAS, the Institute of Oncology provides users with access to critical patient information and clinical tools within a single, cohesive interface throughout all the steps of patient care.
The Institute is adopting a context launch approach for larger, specialised clinical applications. This will enable the integration of external systems while maintaining the unified look and feel of the platform. Task lists, such as patient lists for individual departments, will also be integrated directly into the platform.
Expanding capabilities with preventive care
The Institute of Oncology is also modernising its digital capabilities that support its initiatives of preventive care. The Institute recently completed a tender for DORA, a national breast cancer screening program, and is developing modules for cervical cancer screening (ZORICA). These new digital solutions developed by Slovenian IT companies will also run natively on the Better Platform and manage data in real-time using openEHR and FHIR data repositories, ensuring that all patient data will be accessible across all levels of care, from prevention to treatment and also linked to a national Central Registry of Patient Data (CRPD).
Building a unified patient record
A cornerstone of the Institute’s vision is creating a unified patient record that consolidates clinical and operational data into a single, accessible source. The platform is designed to synchronise patient demographics and clinical data with Slovenia’s national CRPD backbone, which is also built on Better Platform and uses openEHR and FHIR data repositories. This ensures that all relevant patient data is available to other healthcare providers in Slovenia.
With the integration of multiple vendor solutions into the Better Platform, it is becoming a collaborative ecosystem where different applications, tools, and technologies work together to improve patient care.
A vision for the future
The Institute of Oncology’s commitment to adopting a platform-based, postmodern EHR reflects its forward-thinking vision for digital health, which will support the needs of medical teams and the Institute. With the use of openEHR and FHIR, the Institute is building a modern, future-proof system that supports innovation and adaptability. This approach will also lay the grounds for all new tenders to align with the platform and its standards, positioning the institute as a leader in digital healthcare transformation.
Over the next years, the Institute plans to fully implement its unified patient record system, integrate preventive care modules, and expand its capabilities to meet the evolving needs of patients and clinicians.
