Converting Word Documents into HL7 within MMEx
For GPs, reading your report or letter is simpler if it arrives in the same way that they receive pathology reports. In order to do this, the report of letter needs to be sent as HL7 format.
MMEx can do this if the online forms are used. However, it is sometimes more convenient for specialists and others to write the reports using Word and attach multiple reports to the same message to send to a GPs' practice. MMEx can then convert these documents into HL7 messages automatically.
First, compose your Word document. To successfully convert a Word Document into HL7 you are required to provide special key words to identify the doctor's name, the patient's name and the patient's date of birth within the document:
Refer To:
Patient Name:
DOB:
We recommend that if you will be converting Word documents into HL7 regularly, you create a template in Word so that you can easily enter the information required (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: Possible Template for Word Documents to be converted into HL7 format
Save the document in an easily accessible location, as you will need to be able to find it when attaching it to the MMEx message.
To convert a Word Document into HL7, open MMEx and click on the Compose Message tab. Fill in the details of the recipient, the subject heading etc, as you would with any other MMEx message.
Click on the Browse button. Search for your document and once you've found it, click on the Open button. You will now return to the MMEx screen, click Upload.
Figure 2: Attaching your Word Document to your MMEx Message
Once you have uploaded the document, MMEx will ask you if you want to convert the document to HL7 format. Click on the small box to the left hand of the screen. The message will then be converted to Hl7 and can be sent, by clicking on the Send button.
Figure 3: Converting your Word Document to HL7 in MMEx
Note that if you have uploaded multiple documents, all of them will be converted this way.
If you are receiving documents that have been converted into HL7 and you have integrated MMEx with your practice management system, the HL7 document will flow through to the practice management system in the same manner as pathology reports and other MMEx forms.
Figure 4: The converted document imported into the practice management system, Best Practice
Remember that HL7 documents are primarily focused on the content of the information rather than aesthetics, and so some formatting will be lost and your document will appear as plain text to the reader
Figure 5: The Converted Document in HL7 Format as viewed in Pest Practice