Introduction to HL7 Version 3
W. Ed Hammond
February 25, 2008
HL7 v3 messaging standard
HL7 v3 is based on an object information model called the Reference Information Model, (RIM). This model is “abstract,” that is, it is defined without regard to how it is represented in a message “on the wire” or in a “service architecture” method or in a “clinical document.” In fact, each of these representations can contain the same “instance” of information.
This object-oriented design paradigm means that v3 can be extended incrementally when new clinical information domains need to be added, in a way that doesn’t require changing what has already been created.
HL7 Development Framework
The HL7 Development Framework is a formal methodology for mapping any “local”, domain-specific system, such as a “laboratory system” in the v3 Reference model.
The basic concept is that any system can be mapped into a “neutral” and formal UML-based Domain Analysis (DAM) model with the help of domain experts.
The DAM can then be mapped into the equivalent v3-RIM model.
This mapping is bi-directional, and highlights any changes needed by either the local system or the RIM to create a semantically complete mapping.
The RIM Harmonization process supports a standard way to add new domain requirements to the RIM in a way that doesn’t invalidate the previously created models. This again is a feature of object-oriented paradigms.
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