HealthDocs are messages that can include specific types of files inserted into the file. This allows for documents to be transferred between health provider organisations. This differs from the existing method of transmission used for lab results and RSD (Referral, Status, and Discharge) messages as the files that are sent are just text, or flat files.

HealthDocs consists of the following document message types:  Patient Documents and Mail Documents.   The key differentiator between the supported formats is the minimum number of required fields to send a message.

• PatientDocument messages are based on detailed information about a single specific patient. Examples of use include an attachment to a Discharge or Status Update message. PatientDocuments require specific patient information including NHI number.
• MailDocument messages are all messages not suitable to be sent via PatientDocument. 

The following file types are currently supported by Healthlink:

• DOC - Word document

• RTF - Rich text document

• ODT - Open Document Format

• HTML - HTML document (default)

• XML - XML document

• TXT - plain text document

• ZIP - compressed file archive

• PDF - Adobe PDF document

• JPG - JPEG graphics

• PNG - PNG graphics

• GIF - GIF graphics

• BMP - BMP graphics

• MP3 - MP3 audio

NOTE: While TIF files are not supported (most sites save their scanned documents in this format to save space), we convert these into the PNG graphics format for sending.
The maximum size of HealthDoc file is 5MB.