Interoperable clinical document-exchange system

Abstract

A method of exchanging messages between users over a network includes receiving a registration request from an organization and provisioning an organizational sub-domain, verifying the registration request according to requirements of a first protocol and provisioning a first user address that is part of the organizational sub-domain, and sending a message from the first user address to a second user address according to the first protocol.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method for exchanging messages between a first user and a second user over a network, the method comprising the following operations performed by a processor:
 determining a type of transaction associated with a first message;   formatting the first message based on the type of transaction, the first message having a message field based on the type of transaction;   selecting a protocol for sending the first message based on the type of transaction; and   sending the first message using the selected protocol.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the message field includes a mandatory message field and an optional message field, population of the mandatory message field being required for sending the first message. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 automatically populating the message field based on a second transaction associated with the first message.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the second transaction is based on a response to the first message. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein formatting the first message includes:
 using a first predefined message template associated with the type of transaction.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first predefined message template includes a mandatory message field and an optional message field, population of the mandatory message field being required for sending the first message. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 creating a second message associated with a response to the first message.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the first message and the second message are part of a single transaction. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein creating the second message includes:
 using the first predefined message template.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 automatically populating a field of the second message based on a corresponding field of the first message.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the second message is based on a second predefined message template different from the first predefined message template. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first predefined message template is selected based on: an identity of the first user, an identity of the second user, the first user's role in an organization, the second user's role in the organization, the first user's location, the second user's location, or a location of the organization. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the transaction is associated with a workflow and the method further comprises:
 automatically selecting the first predefined message template based on the workflow.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 automatically populating a field of the first predefined message template based on the workflow.   
     
     
         34 . A system for exchanging messages between a first user and a second user over a network, comprising:
 a storage device configured to store instructions; and   a processor configured to execute the following instructions:
 determine a type of transaction associated with a first message; 
 format the first message based on the type of transaction, the first message having a message field based on the type of transaction; 
 select a protocol for sending the first message based on the type of transaction; and 
 send the first message using the selected protocol. 
   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the message field includes a mandatory message field and an optional message field, population of the mandatory message field being required for sending the first message. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute an instruction to:
 create a second message associated with a response to the first message.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute an instruction to:
 format the first message using a first predefined message template associated with the type of transaction.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the transaction is associated with a workflow and the processor is further configured to execute an instruction to:
 automatically select the first predefined message template based on the workflow.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute an instruction to:
 automatically populate a field of the first predefined message template based on the workflow.