Wrap VistA in an endpoint for the FileMan Query Language (FMQL) and the most popular EMR in America becomes a fully fledged Health Data Repository. VistA moves beyond computerized order entry to support patient and cross-patient data reports, natively. Reporting needs no caching, copying, no custom interfaces. Now you just query VistA directly, in its own terms.

FMQL

VistA is built around a MUMPS-based data repository called FileMan which follows a network model very like a Semantic Web graph – just look at its Patient file. But FileMan, though efficient and flexible, has no remote query language. So for processing, VistA data had to be transferred elsewhere, taken bit by bit with custom interfaces, HL7, even email. Enter FMQL to let any web-enabled client query ANY data stored in a VistA system.

See it

Visit Caregraf’s VistA system at vista.caregraf.org which supports four FMQL-enabled clients …

• Go anywhere with the FileMan Rambler - the unfortunate patient Jones has a story to tell.
• Understand VistA’s schema with the FileMan Schema Browser. Here’s what the Problem file looks like.
• Make your own queries in the FMQL Query Maker and see the response, as raw JSON or HTML.
• VistA’s medical concepts are extensive. Why not browse them in the VistA Concepts browser?

All of these clients come in the FMQL opensource release.

Try it yourself

Download, unzip and follow the install instructions. Any questions or problems, just contact Caregraf support.

Everything about FMQL from its VistA-residing MUMPS code to clients and example code in HTML/Javascript, Python and Java are in the fmql source code repository.

FMQL has been tested on both fully populated and test FileMan-based systems:

• OpenVistA, VxVistA, and WorldVistA – the open source FOIA based VistAs
• RPMS
• GT/M on Linux, Cache on Windows and Linux