I wouldn't characterize HL7 as a complex protocol. Whether its version 2.x or 3, ER7 or XML encoding, its the clinical data it models that's complex.
I've worked with interfaces for vendors that have built somewhat generic tools for interfaces. The messages supported are limited and well defined, and the data elements in use are limited and well defined. Building a new interface was largely an exercise of mapping data elements. However, custom code was still frequently required. Patient data has context that may be handled differently between vendors, hospitals, and data domains. Even after 50 interfaces from lab vendor A to HIS vendor B, the 51st may have configured these two systems differently than the last 50 and require customization beyond the mapping and translation an interface engine can provide. HL7 is not a database connector, it works at the application level. Its not as simple as mapping data from a message field to a database field. The systems described above map data to/from a well defined transaction that is supported by the application. VistA offers "protocols" that can be/are used for this purpose. Information models may eventually encapsulate the complexity of clinical data, we move a little closer all the time, but I doubt I'll live to see universal application of those models. One thing we can do now is build a tool that would import HL7 message profiles from the Messaging Workbench and validate and build messages to those profiles. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kevin Toppenberg Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 3:49 PM To: hardhats-members@lists.sourceforge.net Subject: Re: [Hardhats-members] VistA HL7 resources Nancy told me that an upcoming version of HL7 is to be in XML format. I hope that will simplify things. Because the documentation I saw for HL7 made me feel that it was a complex protocol. Kevin On 11/11/05, Gregory Woodhouse <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > On Nov 11, 2005, at 11:02 AM, Robert Leonardo wrote: > > Other than the HL7 documentation on the VA website, does anyone know of any > resources to help me create a working HL7 interface. It seems to me that you > would have pretty in depth knowledge of the database and M language to > configure anything HL7. The VA docs assume that you have a fair knowledge of > the system and not a noob like me. > > Once one is created is it possible to save it to something like an export > file for future use with other databases? > > Thanks in advance, > > Robert Leonardo > I replied to the other list, too. > > You are absolutely right. The VistA HL7 package essentially consists of two > pieces: a messaging engine and a low level API. There have been some > attempts to create tools at a higher level of abstraction, but right now, > you're pretty much stuck with custom applications. It's not just HL7 though, > historically, VistA developers have preferred to work at a low level because > it is fast and easy, and there's been little demand for higher level tools. > I've developed (and used) some fairly simple tools based on abstract > machines (or automata), but the approaches I've been investigating to the > general problem of building interfaces at are still somewhat experimental > (and theoretical). I am not aware of any generally useful tools for building > interfaces without writing low level code. The essence of the problem is > that high level tools generally require a semantic model that is > compositional, but compositionality and concurrency are somewhat at odds > with one another. I've been exploring tools (such as monads) that are used > in functional programming to get the interference resulting from concurrency > under control, but it's not an easy problem. > > > > === > Gregory Woodhouse > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > "The universe is not required to be in > perfect harmony with human ambition." > --Carl Sagan > > ------------------------------------------------------- SF.Net email is sponsored by: Tame your development challenges with Apache's Geronimo App Server. Download it for free - -and be entered to win a 42" plasma tv or your very own Sony(tm)PSP. Click here to play: http://sourceforge.net/geronimo.php _______________________________________________ Hardhats-members mailing list Hardhats-members@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/hardhats-members ------------------------------------------------------- This SF.Net email is sponsored by the JBoss Inc. Get Certified Today Register for a JBoss Training Course. Free Certification Exam for All Training Attendees Through End of 2005. For more info visit: http://ads.osdn.com/?ad_id=7628&alloc_id=16845&op=click _______________________________________________ Hardhats-members mailing list Hardhats-members@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/hardhats-members
