Validating messages

Our current Python-based VMDs have considerable amounts of code dedicated to validating messages before processing them. For example, we try to make sure that when an A01/A04 is received, we have the required values (e.g. MRN, AccountNo, Room-Bed). I’m building translator scripts, and want to perform similar functions. What’s the best way for me to do this?

As a start, I have the following as an example. in my main(), I have:
local T = MapData(Data)

That function looks like:

function MapData(Data)
   local MsgIn, Name = hl7.parse{vmd='HL7_2.7.vmd', data=Data}
   local T = db.tables{vmd='atables.vmd', name='Message1'}
      
   MapMSH(T, MsgIn)
   MapEVN(T, MsgIn)
   MapPID(T, MsgIn)
   MapPV1(T, MsgIn)
   for i=1, #MsgIn.AL1 do
      MapAL1(T.AL1[i], MsgIn.AL1[i], MsgIn.MSH[10])
   end
   for i=1, #MsgIn.DG1 do
      MapDG1(T.DG1[i], MsgIn.DG1[i], MsgIn.MSH[10])
   end
   if T.MSH[1].MessageType == 'O01' then
      MapOrder(T, MsgIn)
   end

   return T
end

In MapPID, I have:
T.PID[1].PatientInternalID = MsgIn.PID[3][1][1]

If that value is NULL, I want to log that, and drop the message. Thoughts?

-Robert James,
Interface Analyst,
GetWellNetwork, Inc.

This should be what you are looking for:

http://help.interfaceware.com/kb/692

It should be possible to craft a standard shared module which should give you really nice detailed error messages that explain why a message is rejected. You can get quite fancy with it.

Yes, that is definitely it. I’ll be able to start building that straight away. Thanks!

-Robert James,
Interface Analyst,
GetWellNetwork, Inc.

Be interesting to see how you format the errors. One could get quite slick with it with a little custom web app…

My primary reason for the error detection is to log and filter the message. But I’m curious: how would you use a web app in this situation?

-Robert James,
Interface Analyst,
GetWellNetwork, Inc.