Veterans Health Administration’s VistA - Mumps to Java

Written by Administrator | 16 November 2011

Veterans Health Administration’s VistA - Modernization Blueprint - "AS-IS (MUMPS)" and "TO-BE (JAVA)"
MUMPS Modernization Pilot *
CHAPTER 12 of Information Systems Transformation: Architecture-Driven Modernization Case Studies
Philip H. Newcomb and Robert Couch

ABSTRACT - "AS IS" MUMPS Blueprint to "TO BE" Java Blueprint

This case study documents technologies, processes, and methods of a 100% automated conversion of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Veterans Information System Technical Architecture (VistA) system, written in 2.1 million lines of MUMPS, into Java compatible with the J2EE framework. VistA is the core Electronic Healthcare Recordkeeping (EHR) system for the VHA hospital system, which provides EHR record keeping for more than 4.5 million veterans. A pilot project, conducted in 2005 under VHA auspices as a sole source contract, converted: (1) the Voluntary Timekeeping System (VTS), a module of VistA into Java; (2) FileMan, the VistA file management system into Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) interfacing with an Oracle 9i Relational Database; and (3) the VistA user interface into a Java Server Pages (JSP) browser user interface using the Microsoft IIS Web server. The pilot conclusively demonstrated the feasibility of a fully automated conversion of MUMPS into Java, achieving a transformation that encompassed nearly all of MUMPS language features. The technical strategy achieved a clear separation between application logic business rules, data handling presentation elements, and Web-enabled front-end/user screens. The project was prematurely ended in 2006 due to funding restrictions associated with the Iraq war after the successful completion of a small pilot for the VHA. In 2009 all 2.1 MLOC of MUMPS in OpenVistA, the open source variation of VistA, was converted into Java as a scalability demonstration. The conversion of OpenVistA is available on the main level of the following;

To view the Blueprints of each system contact TSRI at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and request your login data.

OpenVistA
MUMPS TO JAVA

File Man		Click Here "AS IS" to "TO BE" Blueprint
OpenVistA Part 1		Click Here "AS IS" to "TO BE" Blueprint
OpenVistA Part 2		Click Here "AS IS" to "TO BE" Blueprint
OpenVistA Part 3		Click Here "AS IS" to "TO BE" Blueprint
OpenVistA Part 4		Click Here "AS IS" to "TO BE" Blueprint
OpenVistA Part 5		Click Here "AS IS" to "TO BE" Blueprint
OpenVistA Part 6		Click Here "AS IS" to "TO BE" Blueprint
OpenVistA Part 7		Click Here "AS IS" to "TO BE" Blueprint

WorldVistA MUMPS to EGL
OpenVistA MUMPS to EGL

Request Guest Pass		Request Guest Pass

WorldVista Mumps to EGL		Click Here "AS IS" to "TO BE" Blueprint

OpenVistA Fileman Mumps to EGL		Click Here "AS IS" to "TO BE" Blueprint

OpenVistA VT Mumps to EGL		Click Here "AS IS" to "TO BE" Blueprint

as a Transformation Blueprint™, where it serves the open source community as a roadmap toward a future open source EHR system.