Reply To: Can I change message type in xlate

Not only can you do it, I highly encourage it.  It makes no sense to me to have 12 – 15 different ADT translations when 95% of each translation is the same.  Simply set up the variant to make all of the messages the same (I usually use ADT_A01).  Then, for  the messages that don’t have some of the segments. make the segment optional.

If a certain type needs special processing, just use an “IF” statement.  For example if you want to do something different with a discharge just put something like:  if 0(0).EVN.#1 eq A03 …..

Doesn’t it make more sense to have a single translate to maintain?  If you have to change something just change one file rather than a bunch.

This will work for all ADT types that have sequentially the same segments,  It won’t work for an ADT_A17 because of the repeating PID/PV1.

Also, when build the translations, use the # paradigm rather than the HL7 address.  For example, 0(0).PV1.#3 rather than 0(0).PV1.00133.  When was the last time someones discussed an HL7 field with you by HL7 address?  No one is going to ask you ablout PV1 field 00133, they would ask you about PV1 field 3.

As any of you that have been in any my presentations know, I constantly preach *MAINTAINABILITY*.  In the above, which is easier to maintain?  Ease of maintenance translates into cost savings!

End of Charlie’s soapbox   🙂