Direct access to documentation

This website gives an overview of the standards and their context used in the technical structure of message formats. Here you can find: 

• An overview of all the different standards used in the different transactions: consult the list of transactions.
• For FHIR information, see 'concerning FHIR.'
• For all specific KMEHR information (structure, guidelines etc.), see  'concerning KMEHR.'
• The set of web services implemented in concrete initiatives for the standardized exchange of data between systems.
• Sets of reference tables whose values may be used within KMEHR and other messages.
• For instructions on the introduction of a new standard, see 'concerning new message standards.'
• For anything terminology related, see 'concerning terminology and semantics.'

Also on this website that you might be looking for:

• The latest KMEHR XSD
• The KMEHR validator tool
• The eHealth Platform Standards OID and URI list
• The ReTaM exports can be found on the pages of FPS Health.
• Our FHIR Implementation Guide
• The FHIR governance
• If you are looking for the work-in-progress concerning FHIR laboratory, please consult our laboratory IG.

Standards News flash:

• When needed, we send out mails to inform concerning the standards that we manage here.
• Let us know if you want to receive these by sending us a mail using the link provided here. (If you want to subscribe multiple people, please add them in cc.)
• Similar procedure if you were subscribed but want to unsubscribe: send us a mail using the link provided here.

If you are looking for the work-in-progress concerning FHIR laboratory, please consult our laboratory IG.

‘Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources’ or ‘FHIR’ is a standards framework created by HL7. HL7 is a non-profit organization of subject matter experts and information experts working together to create frameworks and standards to exchange electronic health information.

In support of the cluster 0.5 of the actieplan_2019-2021_e-gezondheid/ Plan d’actions e-Santé 2019-2021’ the HL7 FHIR standard is the preferred standard to use. This means any new data flow identified will preferably use the FHIR standard to model its data.

Any new interface in a new data flow will also preferably use the FHIR specifications with a preference for REST. The added value of FHIR is enhanced by sending data both in a structured and a codified way. The guidelines concerning the FHIR narrative shall be followed.

As a description of the FHIR standard, the pages published by HL7 are considered to be sufficient. When needed and mature, eHealth Platform does however publish specific profiles and implementation guidelines for federal initiatives. The first stage of the Belgian profiling initiative has the focus on basic Belgian profiles and guidelines for the FHIR resources Patient, Practitioner, PractitionerRole, Organization, Observation, Provenance and AllergyIntolerance. This also includes the needed ValueSets, CodeSystems and NamingSystems. These are all published in their FHIR artefact form and can be consulted via our FHIR Implementation Guide.

A vision around the FHIR strategy was elaborated with our stakeholders in the spring of 2019. It shall be very clear any transition of current KMEHR flows to FHIR without additional effort on codification and structuring does not provide significant added value. The nature of the data in our systems does not allow for any ‘big bang’ scenario.

The different vaults, Vitalink, RSW, and brusafe+ have created a cookbook about the implementation of FHIR in the vaults. 

In 2020, a FHIR governance was elaborated.

KMEHR was introduced in 2002. It is an implementation of the fourth recommendation of the Belgian Healthcare Telematics Commission, enabling the exchange of structured clinical information.

KMEHR is mainly composed of the following elements:

• an XML schema that defines a general and simple message grammar,
• a set of recognized medical transactions compliant with this grammar,
• a set of reference tables whose values may be used within KMEHR messages.

Those core elements have been complemented by a set of web services implemented in concrete initiatives for the standardized exchange of data between systems.

The Migration Formats describe specific uses of the KMEHR core elements.

The organization of the site follows the core concepts of the norm.

• The Basic section describes the KMEHR XSchema structure as well as the related basic principles and concepts.
• The Transactions section documents the recognized transactions. (KMEHR and other)
• The Tables section provides an overview of the reference tables used (used in KMEHR and others)
• The Web services section provides the definition of a minimal set of services to support the transactions exchange.

Additionally, you can find a quick overview as well as a tutorial in the Support section.

We strongly recommend that you begin your reading with the overview and basic sections before tackling the more specialized sections.

The eHValidator tool can be found here.

If you intend or your organization intends to create a new definition of a structured message, it is important to follow the right guidelines. Read more about the new message guidelines.

The importance of terminologies is broader than its implementation in structured messages.

The Terminology Center within the FPS health, food chain safety and environment plays a vital role in the management, creation and distribution of terminologies concerning health. The center is also specifically active in the management and distribution of SNOMED-CT within Belgium. SNOMED-CT is the principal national reference terminology.

As such, they are your first point of contact concerning any semantic question: Terminology Center.