While it is currently unknown precisely how long EHRs will be preserved, it is certain that length of time will exceed the average shelf-life of paper records. Due to the evolution of technology, the programs and systems used to input information will likely not be available to a user who desires to examine archived data. One proposed solution is to standardize information fields in a time-invariant way, such as with XML language.
XML is the most common tool for data transmissions between all sorts of applications. It can alleviate many of the interoperability problems associated with the sharing of documents and data.
Example of EHR XML:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<CodeGroup ID="CG1" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:ihe="urn:ihe:iti:svs:2008" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="../schema/Collaborative/Measure.xsd">
<ihe:ValueSet id="1.2.6.1.4.1.21367.2008.3.1.2008.1" displayName="ACEIs - NHIQM - Appendix C, Table 1.2" version="2.5" />
<ihe:SourceCodeSystem id="2.16.840.1.113883.6.88"/>
<ihe:ConceptList>
<ihe:Concept codeSystem="2.16.840.1.113883.6.88" code="349442" displayName="Amlodipine 10 MG / benazepril 20 MG Oral Capsule" />
<ihe:Concept codeSystem="2.16.840.1.113883.6.88" code="629569" displayName="Amlodipine 10 MG / benazepril 40 MG Oral Capsule" />
<ihe:Concept codeSystem="2.16.840.1.113883.6.88" code="308137" displayName="Amlodipine 2.5 MG / benazepril 10 MG Oral Capsule" />`
<ihe:Concept codeSystem="2.16.840.1.113883.6.88" code="308138" displayName="Amlodipine 5 MG / benazepril 10 MG Oral Capsule" />
<ihe:Concept codeSystem="2.16.840.1.113883.6.88" code="308139" displayName="Amlodipine 5 MG / benazepril 20 MG Oral Capsule" />
EHR exportation structures:
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_informatics
