An XML-based virtual patient records system for healthcare enterprises

With the advent of shared care, there is a need to integrate patient records which spread in disparate information systems. In this paper, the design and implementation of an XML-based Virtual Patient Records System, XVPRS, is described. It uses World Wide Web to consolidate patient data across multiple organizations. The system uses XML-encoded HL7 as the application level protocol between legacy systems and XML as the main information format in the system itself. XVPRS also demonstrates how to transmit and process a clinical document using CDA. Our experience in XVPRS shows that using XML as the primary information format not only simplifies the development of single information system but also facilitates information integration among enterprise systems.