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Message type

Bed status update

Updates the status of a bed (available, occupied, contaminated, housekeeping) without referencing a specific patient. The NPU segment carries the bed ID and new status. Bed management and environmental services dashboards consume this.

5segments
3required
0groups
v2.9HL7 version
adt-a20.py
# Zato
from zato.hl7v2 import HL7Message

# An incoming message ..
raw = 'MSH|^~\&|SENDER|FAC|RCV|DEST|20260701||' \
      'ADT^A20^ADT_A20|MSG001|P|2.9\r' \
      'EVN|A01|20260701\r' \
      'SFT|ACME^Software|v4.1|EHR System|BIN001'

# .. parsed into a Python object ..
msg = HL7Message.parse(raw)

# .. whose fields we can now access.
event_code = msg.evn.event_type_code
recorded_time = msg.evn.recorded_date_time
vendor = msg.sft.software_vendor_organization
version = msg.sft.software_certified_version_or_release_number

Build and parse ADT^A20 messages in Python

How to construct, send, receive, and extract fields from real-world ADT^A20 messages.

1

Parse an incoming ADT^A20 message

Demonstrates receiving and extracting key fields from a bed status update transaction

# Zato
from zato.hl7v2 import HL7Message

# An incoming message ..
raw = 'MSH|^~\&|SENDER|FAC|RCV|DEST|20260701||' \
      'ADT^A20^ADT_A20|MSG001|P|2.9\r' \
      'EVN|A01|20260701\r' \
      'SFT|ACME^Software|v4.1|EHR System|BIN001'

# .. parsed into a Python object ..
msg = HL7Message.parse(raw)

# .. whose fields we can now access.
event_code = msg.evn.event_type_code
recorded_time = msg.evn.recorded_date_time
vendor = msg.sft.software_vendor_organization
version = msg.sft.software_certified_version_or_release_number

Learn by building

Step-by-step guides for working with HL7 v2 in Zato.

Frequently asked questions

Use the HL7v2 message parser to extract the typed structure. The parsed message gives you direct access to every segment and field by name.

from zato.hl7v2 import HL7Message

raw = 'MSH|^~\&|SENDER|FACILITY|RECEIVER|DEST|20260401120000||ADT^A20^ADT_A20|MSG00001|P|2.9\rEVN|A20|20260401120000\rNPU|MED^201^A^^^MAIN|N'
msg = HL7Message.parse(raw)

event_code = msg.evn.event_type_code
recorded_time = msg.evn.recorded_date_time

Beyond the mandatory MSH header, the required segments are: EVN, NPU. Optional segments provide additional detail when available.

Zato connects to any system that speaks HL7v2 over MLLP or FHIR over REST. This includes Epic, Cerner, Meditech, Allscripts, and other EHR platforms.

Yes, Zato has built-in MLLP support for sending and receiving HL7v2 messages. MLLP channels handle the framing protocol automatically.

Zato supports HL7 v2.9, which is backward compatible with earlier versions including v2.3, v2.5, and v2.7. Standard segments and datatypes are available as typed Python classes.

Yes. Zato handles both HL7v2 and FHIR natively, so you can parse v2 messages and build FHIR resources with IG-specific extensions in the same service. Typed Python classes are available for both protocols, including extensions from US Core, UK Core, Da Vinci, and other Implementation Guides.

ADT^A20 segment composition

Segments that make up the ADT^A20 message, in order. Groups are shown with their child segments.

#SegmentUsageRepeatsDescriptionGroup
1MSHRequiredNoMessage header-
2SFTOptionalYesSoftware segment-
3UACOptionalNoUser authentication credential-
4EVNRequiredNoEvent type-
5NPURequiredNoBed status update-

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Open source In Python