Product V2 XML

Product Brief - HL7 Version 2: XML Encoding Syntax, Release 1

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Product Name

HL7 Version 2: XML Encoding Syntax, Release 1
Also refered to as XML Encoding Rules for HL7 V2 Messages

Standard Category

Health Information Exchange Standards

Integration Paradigm

Messaging

Type

Normative, ANSI Standard

Releases

• ANSI/HL7 V2 XML, R1-2003

Summary

HL7 Version 2 XML Encoding Syntax was approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as an American National Standard in June 2003. This specification, informally known as HL7 V2.xml, defines the Extensible Markup Language (XML) encoding rules for traditional HL7 Version 2 message content. It primarily addresses the expression of HL7 Version 2 messages in XML as an alternative to the traditional “vertical bar” encoding, and describes the underlying rules and principles. XML schema definitions are provided for all Version 2 message types, including the corresponding data type descriptions necessary for this specification. Due to their greater expressiveness, schemas are the preferred way to describe a set of constraints on message instances. Document Type Definitions (DTDs) are also provided as an informative appendix.

Description

The traditional HL7 Version 2 Standard, the workhorse of clinical information exchange, is the most implemented standard for healthcare information in the world. It has been used for the exchange and management of clinical and administrative data since March of 1987. It should be noted that though HL7 Version 3 has been released, HL7 Version 2 will still be necessary to continue support for the large base of existing systems that employ it-hence the need for HL7 V2.xml.

Benefits

THE BENEFITS OF XML "The XML capability of HL7 V2.xml makes messages web-enabled, provides more widespread acceptance, and allows up-front validation that reduces the chance of error," said Kai U. Heitmann, M.D. of the Institute for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Epidemiology at the University of Cologne, Germany. Heitmann is a past International Representative on the HL7 Board of Directors; Past Co-Chair of the HL7 XML Work Group; and editor of the Version 2 XML Encoding Syntax standard.

Cross-industry efficiencies are another important benefit of XML-based standards. " Implementing HL7 V2.xml is also less expensive because its tag-oriented format makes available to users a rich suite of free, off-the-shelf XML tools," Heitmann said.

Resources

Education

• See more at http://www.hl7.org/implement/training.cfm

Certification Available

• none