This specification conforms to FHIR®© R4
Governance for MedCom FHIR®© Messaging
Table of contents
- 1 Introduction to Governance for MedCom FHIR Messaging
- 2 Terms and abbreviations
- 3 Message exchange
- 4 MedCom FHIR Messages
- 5 Terminology
- 6 Governance for concrete MedCom FHIR Standards
1 Introduction to Governance for MedCom FHIR Messaging
On this page, you can find information about how MedCom has profiled the HL7 FHIR Messaging Framework to work in a Danish context. Governance for MedCom HL7 FHIR Messaging describes the basic ruleset of how MedCom Messages must be exchanged in the Danish Healthcare Messaging Network. The Danish ruleset is based on:
- the ruleset for the Danish VANS Network
- the general HL7 FHIR Communication Rules for FHIR Messaging
- the Danish profiling of FHIR messaging.
These MedCom FHIR Messaging Governance rules are intended to clarify the use of MedCom’s FHIR messages for the health and social area. Formerly, these kinds of rules for other MedCom Messaging paradigms were known as ”Syntax & Communication Rules”.
It is the intention that the MedCom FHIR Messaging Governance rules together with MedCom’s FHIR standards for the individual messages form the full and sufficient basis for implementing MedCom’s healthcare messages. Thus, the governance rules must be able to function as “a chief judge”, where there is doubt about the practical application of MedCom’s FHIR messages.
In the following, we follow a top-down approach by initially addressing shipping over the Network Layer and its ruleset, followed by the logistics for MedCom FHIR Messaging and lastly the basic ruleset of how to compose a MedCom FHIR message. Initially, is a brief introduction to the use of terms presented.
2 Terms and abbreviations
Click here to get an overview of the terms and abbreviations used in to describe the Governance.
2.1 Special terms used in Governance for MedCom FHIR Messaging
MedCom adopts the normative words defined in IETF Best Current Practice 14: Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels (BCP-14) (currently RFC 2119 and RFC 8174), certain words indicate whether a specific content of the Technical Framework is normative: either required (e.g., “must”, “required”, “shall”) or optional (e.g., “may”, “recommended”). Informative content does not contain these key words.
RFC 2119 specifies common key words that may be used in protocol specifications, where RFC 8174 aims to reduce the ambiguity by clarifying that only UPPERCASE usage of the key words have the defined special meanings.
This specification uses the conformance verbs SHALL, SHOULD, and MAY as defined in RFC 2119. Unlike RFC 2119, however, this specification allows that different applications might not be able to interoperate because of how they use optional features. In particular:
- SHALL: (or “REQUIRED” or “MUST”) an absolute requirement for all implementations
- SHALL NOT: (or “MUST NOT”) an absolute prohibition against inclusion for all implementations
- SHOULD/SHOULD NOT: (or “RECOMMENDED”/“NOT RECOMMENDED”) A best practice or recommendation to be considered by implementers within the context of their particular implementation; there may be valid reasons to ignore an item, but the full implications must be understood and carefully weighed before choosing a different course
- MAY: (or “OPTIONAL”) This is truly optional language for an implementation; can be included or omitted as the implementer decides with no implications
This convention is in compliance with HL7 FHIR use of the terms, which is descibed by HL7 FHIR under conformance language.
3 Message exchange
MedCom FHIR Messaging is based on Asynchronous Messaging. In Asynchronous messaging, a Sending EcoSystem dispatches an unsolicited message to a Receiving EcoSystem possibly through several intermediate hubs. Besides sending a possibly requested acknowledgement immediately as a response, the Receiving EcoSystem responds to the Sending EcoSystem separately. The Receiving EcoSystem may respond more than once to any given message.
When exchanging a MedCom FHIR message, it is allowed to send in a FHIR+JSON og FHIR+XML format, which is in alignment with HL7 FHIR.
3.1 Governance for Reliable Messaging in general
Governance for Reliable Messaging in general lays the grounds for Governance for Reliable Messaging using VANSenvelope and Governance for Reliable Messaging using FHIR. The generic ruleset defines the other two rulesets.
Click here to go to Reliable Messaging in general.
3.2 Governance for Network Layer
Governance for Network Layer covers rulesets for VANSEnvelope and Reliable Messaging using VANSenvelope.
Click here to go to Governance for Network Layer.
Reliable Messaging using VANSEnvelope describes different scenarios when using the VANSEnvelope. This is a profiling of the scenarios described in Reliable Messaging in general. mentioned in section 3.1.
Click here to see how to setup Reliable Messaging using VANSEnvelope
3.2.1 VANSenvelope specifications
Click here to go to the specifications for VANSenvelope.
3.3 Governance for MedCom FHIR Message Exchange
Governance for MedCom FHIR Messaging covers Reliable Messaging using MedCom FHIR Messaging, sending and receiving scenarios, and rulesets for FHIR Messaging and FHIR Messaging Acnowledgement.
Click here to go to Governance for MedCom FHIR Messaging.
Reliable Messaging using MedCom FHIR Messaging describes different scenarios when using FHIR messages. This is a profiling of the scenarios described in Reliable Messaging in general. mentioned in section 3.1.
Click here to see how to apply Reliable Messaging using MedCom FHIR Messaging
4 MedCom FHIR Messages
An implementer of a MedCom FHIR Message Standard SHALL be compliant with all parts of the documentation laid out for the MedCom FHIR Messaging framework.
You can find a description here: Click here to read the documentation for the MedCom FHIR Messaging framework
4.1 Governance for MedCom FHIR Messages
Governance for MedCom FHIR Messages covers the basic ruleset for a MedCom FHIR Message, MedComMessagingMessage and its content, MedComMessagingMessageHeader, MedComMessagingOrganization and MedComMessagingProvenance
Click here to go to Governance for MedCom FHIR Messages.
4.2 Governance for displaying MedCom FHIR Messages
Governance for displaying MedCom FHIR Messaging covers the basic demands for a sending system to be able to display before sending and the basic demands for a receiving system to be able to display after having received a MedComMessagingMessage.
Click here to go to Governance for displaying MedCom FHIR Messages
4.3 Governance for episode of care identifiers
An episode of care identifier (Danish: forløbsid) is used for linking messages exchanged during a message flow. When the episode of care identifier is received e.g. in a ReportOfAdmission (Danish: Indlæggelsesrapport), ProgressOfCarePlan (Danish: Plejeforløbsplan), HospitalNotification (Danish: Advis om sygehusophold) or a previous CareCommunication (Danish: Korrespondancemeddelelse), it must be returned.
Click here to reade more about episode of care identifiers
5 Terminology
5.1 Governance for MedCom FHIR Terminology
Governance for MedCom FHIR Terminology covers Codesystems, Valuesets and ConceptMaps, which are published through our MedCom FHIR Terminology IG and hosted on a MedCom FHIR Terminology Server.
Click here to go to Governance for Terminology.
5.2 Governance for MedCom FHIR Terminology Server
Governance for the MedCom FHIR Terminology Server will appear here when published.
6 Governance for concrete MedCom FHIR Standards
Each MedCom FHIR Message will potentially add some specific Governance Rules to the mix of overall Governance Rules. These are handled on a separate page, to which the specific standard also will link to.
Click here to go to Governance for concrete MedCom FHIR Message Standards.
6.1 Versioning of MedCom FHIR Standards
Vendors should be prepared to handle multiple versions of a MedCom FHIR standard. The version of the standard is not explicitly stated in a message. However, the version of a received message can be found in the VANSEnvelope, which is described in the section of Governance for Network Layer.
When receiving a MedCom FHIR message, it should be validated against the rules and contraints defined in the associtated Implementaiotn guide of the same version. If it is not possible for you to use the versionnumber from the envelopes, it is recommended that systems always validate a message against the latest version of the standard when recieving a such one. As long as there are no breaking changes in the standard (i.e. a non-backwards compatible change) this will be a viable way to go. With breaking changes, systems should include two versions of the standard that can validated against, for example version 3.0.0 and 2.1.0.
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Support or contact
MedCom is responsible for this page. If you have any questions regarding this page, please contact fhir@medcom.dk or write to MedComs stream on Zulip.Version of this documentation
The version of this documentation is: Version 1.0.8 You can finde the release note of the version here."FHIR® is the registered trademark of HL7 and is used with the permission of HL7. Use of the FHIR trademark does not constitute endorsement of this implementation guide by HL7, nor affirmation that this content is conformant to the various applicable standards"