Health data transfer protocol based on SGML. The Health Data Markup Language (HDML)

The Joint Working Group (JWG) of JMHTS (Japan Society of Multiphasic Health Testing and Services) and JAHIS (Japanese Association of Healthcare Information Systems Industry) has developed a health data transfer protocol called HDML (Health Data Markup Language) for effective data sharing between health information systems. The purpose of data sharing is to arrive at an estimate of an individual's health risk using ordinary health information in distributed databases. The JWG has discussed three subjects, viz. a health information model, terminology and an encoding schema. HDML was developed based on the health information model. As an encoding schema of HDML, SGML was used because it is a powerful language for describing the structure of a text and for ensuring that a complex medical/health text fits that description. HDML defines the simple standard document/data type definition that organizes health checkup data. HDML also defines many attributes that are used to transfer the meaning of data. As a feasibility study, the JWG developed a data conversion tool for HDML and carried out an experimental trial. Seven health checkup institutes and client enterprises participated in the study. The HDML tool succeeded in transferring almost all laboratory data correctly between senders' and receivers' information systems. Moreover, the HDML tool could convert a sender's laboratory data structure into a receiver-compliant data structure. These results confirmed the validity of HDML in the actual health/medical stage. The JWG proposes that HDML will standardize health/medical data for multi-health facilities.