KEYWORDS:
HL7 2.3.1, Java, JMS, Queues, Databases, BEA Weblogic 6.1, DTD, XML, registry, MatchMerge, Software Development
BACKGROUND:
Since 1997, the San Diego County Immunization Registry has been a client of Software Partners. The client server registry system that SWP developed has been live since 1997. This project came to be known as the MatchMerge System.
OBJECTIVE(S):
After the completion of the client server version, it was decided that in order to allow better flexibility and interface ease of use, the MatchMerge System would require a web-based software interface. Additionally the process of directly interfacing with multiple medical facilities would require an up-to-date standardized method of communication. The HL7 2.3.1 (XML based) specification provided just that.
METHOD(S):
The HL7 2.3.1 implementation provided an organized and streamlined means of communicating between medical facilities by offering a realtime means of transferring patient records. Java technology was utilized for the communication interface and provided a means of parsing the messages received and moving to a database. Custom parsing was utilized for data validation. Lookup values were kept in separate XML based files. The management of parsing was by BEA Weblogic 6.1 Server.
RESULT(S):
HL7 2.3.1 messages were easily parsed and the Weblogic Server managed the messages being parsed. Messages were placed in a Java based messaging system and parsed accordingly. Batch message were additionally handled by the queues and each separate patient record is parsed out of the XML Batch and parsed individually.
CONCLUSIONS(S):
Software Partners found that the HL7 2.3.1 (XML based) specification worked easily and assisted greatly communication between facilities by allowing more simplified communication and easy parsing.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Successful implementation of the XML based HL7 specification in a realtime messaging environment.
Back to Connect: Connections Using HL7 — Part I
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Back to The 2002 Immunization Registry Conference of CDC