How to convert HL7 v2 to FHIR

Question

We'd like to replace HL7 v2 A01 transactions with FHIR resource transactions, and want to know what the options are to map A01 to FHIR resources. Based on researches through the docs and discussions, there two potential options stand out to me:

• (a) map ADT to Encounter with extensions for children resource references
• (b) model ADT as FHIR messaging process with a bundle of several resources and linkage info

What are your recommendations?

Thanks

Answer 1

Ultimately the answer will depend on how you want the message to be interpreted. An ADT^A01 message is event-based, and if you want to convey that the event has happened using FHIR, messaging is the best fit. This assumes that the receiving system(s) has a stateful model of ADT where messages will be received an interpreted correctly.

HL7 hasn't formalized ADT events as part of the messaging events in FHIR . As a casual onlooker I would classify ADT^A01 into the category of an event with a consequence see section 2.24.1.1

The message represents/requests a change that should not be processed more than once; eg, making a booking for an appointment.

If you only care about demographics updates - you may be betters served by cherry-picking fields from HL7v2 and using REST to push updates.