Coding System Representation in v2 messages

Nov 24, 2011

At the HL7 Australia meeting today, it became clear that we need to improve the way that coding systems are represented in HL7 v2 messages. This problem arises because components 3 and 6 are ST or IS types (in the versions of the standards that are used here in Australia), taken from table 0396. The list of defined code values in table 0396 doesn’t overlap very much with the code systems used here in Australia, and many systems seem to choose the string to represent the code system somewhat at random, and this certainly doesn’t help interoperability.

Here’s my list of coding systems that are used in Australia and will probably need to be represented in v2 messages, along with a candidate string where I know one:

  • Snomed-CT (“SCT” defined in v2.6)
  • AMT (should be “SCT” following the practices defined for CDA)
  • MIMS
  • Docle
  • ICPC2+
  • ICD-10-AM
  • Meteor/AIHW tables
  • ANZSCO occupations
  • PBS Code, PBS Manufacturer Code, MBS Code
  • various codes from AS 4590 and 5017
  • Some private codes from GP system vendors (i.e. GP Best Practice)

These code systems also need defined policies for specifying the version appropriately.

At the meeting we agreed that I would survey HL7 Australia members for their current practices with regard to this, and then I’d collate a candidate list of strings and version policies which would then be posted to the HL7 Australia wiki for refinement.

Please send any contributions for the list to John Carey at jcarey11 at bigpond.net.au. He’ll collate the list for me.