HL7 v3 CDA 2.0 support
The HL7 Version 3 CDA (Clinical Document Architecture) Framework Release 2.0 is a standard. This standard defines the semantics of condition and the structure of clinical documents when exchanged by HL7 messages. It is a standard for exchanging HL7 messages when the incoming message format is XML and the internal structure of the message is defined by HL7 v3 CDA.
The CDA provides an exchange model for clinical documents, such as discharge summaries and progress notes.
Key aspects of the CDA include:
- CDA documents are encoded in Extensible Markup Language (XML). By leveraging the use of XML, the HL7 Reference Information Model (RIM) and coded vocabularies, the CDA makes documents both machine-readable and human-readable. CDA documents can be displayed using XML-aware web browsers or wireless applications such as cell phones.
- CDA documents derive their machine-processable meaning from the HL7 Reference Information Model (RIM) and use the HL7 Version 3 data types.
CDA specifies the structure and semantics of clinical documents for the purpose of exchange. The scope has expanded through usage. For example, some implementations are using CDA to exchange laboratory reports or prescriptions. A common question relates to the distinction between an HL7 document and an HL7 message, and knowing which to use when.
Although there are gray zones, messages tend to be transient, trigger based, and nonpersistent. Clinical documents have persistence, wholeness, clinician authentication, and are human readable.