Racing to Modernize Behavioral Health Technology
Proem empowers healthcare professionals, educators, and researchers with software solutions that allow them to more accurately and efficiently identify, diagnose, and monitor individuals who need behavioral health assistance. Their behavioral health technology stems from evidence-based solutions, validated through more than 17,000 studies and used worldwide.
However, the company’s aging monolithic platform was becoming a major liability, preventing them from scaling effectively and delivering the high-quality experience their users required.
Proem’s aging technology stack posed serious challenges, significantly affecting the bottom line:
- Technical debt from an outdated user interface leads to a poor user experience.
- Slow response times and application lags left doctors waiting for an accurate diagnosis and treatment process.
- Lengthy manual test cycles and defect leakage.
- The need to transfer their platform to the cloud while maintaining strict data regulations for over 25 years’ worth of patient and provider data.
To continue its mission and capture new growth opportunities, Proem required a comprehensive modernization effort. They needed a partner who could not only re-engineer the technology from the ground up but also understand the complex compliance and integration needs of the healthcare industry.
A Multi-Faceted Modernization for an Agile, Cloud-Ready Platform
Proem’s challenge was clear: they needed to break free from their legacy constraints without disrupting the vital services they provide. The goal was a comprehensive modernization that would address performance, scalability, and speed-to-market.
KMS Technology engaged with a multi-pronged strategy focused on re-architecting the core platform and embedding automation and DevOps best practices. Our approach was designed to systematically address every pain point Proem was facing, including:
- Performance Tuning
- Test Automation
- DevOps
- Platform Architecture
- EHR Integration
1. Performance Tuning
KMS Technology began by focusing on database optimization to improve system responsiveness. The team conducted a thorough assessment of Proem’s database, pinpointing slow queries, inefficient indexing, and other performance bottlenecks.
We then set up a maintenance process for defragmentation and tuning, and assessed and implemented recommended improvements and tools for Proem’s database design and configuration.
As a result, application response times dropped dramatically from 10 seconds to just 2 seconds. Clinicians can now access patient information faster and more reliably, enabling them to make timely, informed care decisions.
2. Test Automation
KMS introduced and utilized Katalon Studio to build a new test automation solution and provided guides on Confluence. Our team methodically increased automation coverage across front-end, API, and smoke testing, achieving a 56% increase in automation test coverage.
We also built out comprehensive performance monitoring dashboards, along with detailed reports and metrics, to ensure constant visibility and transparency into testing quality across Proem.
3. DevOps
KMS completed the setup of a CI/CD pipeline process on AWS and orchestrated a seamless integration with automated testing triggers, all within 2 weeks.
As a result, deployment times for six distinct production environments reduced from 85 hours to a remarkable 12 hours, an 80% reduction.
4. Platform Architecture
To support scalability, KMS Technology shifted components and re-architected Proem’s monolithic platform into a microservices-based architecture. Modularizing the architecture not only simplified maintenance and troubleshooting but also enabled rapid development and future integration of new features.
The highly flexible infrastructure paved the way for seamless connections with larger EHR providers and empowered Proem to adapt quickly as market demands evolve.
5. EHR Integration
Expanding interoperability and extending Proem’s market reach required seamless integration with leading EHR providers. KMS designed, developed, and tested a SMART on FHIR–based application that embeds Proem’s behavioral health tools directly within the athenahealth provider portal.
Deep integration with the athenahealth provider portal gave clinicians access to advanced behavioral health capabilities directly within their existing workflows, reducing friction and improving usability.
Driving a New Era of Innovation and Growth
The partnership with KMS transformed Proem’s technological capabilities, providing an innovative edge to strengthen their relationships with healthcare organizations. The modernization effort moved Proem from a position of being limited by its technology to being empowered by it.
Initially constrained by legacy technology and slow processes, Proem is now equipped with a modern, cloud-ready platform and a wide array of business impacts:
- Accelerated release speed by 80%, enabling faster delivery of new capabilities.
- Reduced deployment time by 86%, reducing downtime and operational delays.
- Improved platform responsiveness, enhancing the clinician experience.
- Enabled seamless integrations with major EHR vendors.
Through the new microservices architecture and the improvement in platform performance, KMS enabled Proem to stand out in a competitive market and pursue future growth.