Understanding ABDM Data Formats: Unstructured, Structured, and Fully Structured Data for Healthcare Interoperability
ABDM has adopted a unique approach in its data sharing implementation. If you're looking to provide interoperability via ABDM, it's essential to understand the different types of data formats. In this blog post, we'll discuss the three types of data being shared: unstructured, structured, and fully structured.
Unstructured Data (Scanned Documents)
Unstructured data or Scanned documents are useful for quickly uploading patient's historical records. They can also be PDF diagnostic reports. It requires a human on the other end to understand the data in these documents. It provides the bare minimum level of interoperability but is quick and can save a lot of time to access patient's historical records.
Structured Data (Natural language)
Structured data is formatted and organized, making it easier to analyze and interpret. It allows adding free text as compared to standardized codes. This provides with much better context faster than scanned documents.
Fully Structured Data (SNOMED-CT)
This is the most organized and standardized form of ABDM data. It includes standardized codes and terminologies as per SNOMED-CT and can be very useful for billing and claims purposes. It captures information like patient demographics, medical history, and lab results. This type of data is essential for accurate and timely processing of healthcare information.
Conclusion
In real-life implementation, digital health platforms will require a comprehensive solution that supports all three data formats - unstructured, structured, and fully structured. This can improve patient outcomes and streamline healthcare operations. By understanding the differences between these data types, healthcare organizations can improve interoperability and patient care.
If you're looking to make your healthcare organization interoperable, understanding ABDM data formats is a great first step. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help optimize your healthcare data management system.