Segment

Language detail

Carries the languages spoken or written by a staff member, including the language code and proficiency level. It follows STF in MFN staff master file messages and is used by credentialing, scheduling, and patient access systems to match patients with providers who speak their language.

4fields

2required

v2.9HL7 version

from zato.hl7v2.v2_9 import LAN
from zato.hl7v2.v2_9 import XCN, CWE

lan = LAN()
lan.primary_key_value_lan = '1'
lan.language_id = CWE(
    identifier='en',
    text='English',
    name_of_coding_system='ISO639-2'
)
lan.proficiency_level = CWE(
    identifier='FL',
    text='Fluent',
    name_of_coding_system='HL70464'
)

Python examples

Build LAN segments in Python

How to construct and work with real-world LAN segments.

Spanish fluency for a bilingual coordinator

Records Spanish as a spoken language with fluent proficiency for a bilingual patient access coordinator

from zato.hl7v2.v2_9 import LAN
from zato.hl7v2.v2_9 import CWE

lan = LAN()
lan.set_id_lan = '1'
lan.language_code = CWE(
    identifier='es',
    text='Spanish',
    name_of_coding_system='ISO639-2'
)
lan.language_ability_code = CWE(
    identifier='SPK',
    text='Speak',
    name_of_coding_system='HL70403'
)
lan.language_proficiency_code = CWE(
    identifier='FL',
    text='Fluent',
    name_of_coding_system='HL70404'
)

French with read and write ability

Records French as a read-and-write language with good proficiency for provider-patient correspondence

from zato.hl7v2.v2_9 import LAN
from zato.hl7v2.v2_9 import CWE

lan = LAN()
lan.set_id_lan = '2'
lan.language_code = CWE(
    identifier='fr',
    text='French',
    name_of_coding_system='ISO639-2'
)
lan.language_ability_code = CWE(
    identifier='RWR',
    text='Read and Write',
    name_of_coding_system='HL70403'
)
lan.language_proficiency_code = CWE(
    identifier='GS',
    text='Good',
    name_of_coding_system='HL70404'
)

Mandarin with spoken and written proficiency

Records Mandarin Chinese with both spoken and written ability codes and a fluent proficiency level for multilingual scheduling

from zato.hl7v2.v2_9 import LAN
from zato.hl7v2.v2_9 import CWE

lan = LAN()
lan.set_id_lan = '3'
lan.language_code = CWE(
    identifier='zh',
    text='Chinese Mandarin',
    name_of_coding_system='ISO639-2'
)
lan.language_ability_code = CWE(
    identifier='SPK',
    text='Speak',
    name_of_coding_system='HL70403'
)
lan.language_proficiency_code = CWE(
    identifier='FL',
    text='Fluent',
    name_of_coding_system='HL70404'
)

Tutorials

Learn by building

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

MLLP

Receive and parse HL7 v2 messages

Set up an MLLP channel, parse incoming messages, and respond with acknowledgments.

Start tutorial Build

Build and send HL7 v2 messages

Construct HL7 v2 messages from scratch using typed segment classes and send them over MLLP.

Start tutorial

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

LAN records language capabilities and preferences including spoken languages, written languages, and communication preferences. It's used to track provider language skills for multilingual client services in wellness programs.

Use ISO639-2 two-letter language codes for languages:

lan.language_id = CWE(
    identifier='en',
    text='English',
    name_of_coding_system='ISO639-2'
)

Use HL70464 table values like FL (Fluent), GS (Good), or FA (Fair) to indicate language proficiency levels.

Use the preference field as a list of CWE objects to indicate multiple communication preferences like SPK (Spoken) and WRT (Written) for the same language.

Y indicates this is the preferred language for communication, while N means it's not the primary preference. Use this to identify the provider's primary communication language.

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.

Reference

LAN field reference

Complete list of fields in the LAN segment, HL7 v2.9.

#	Python name	Datatype	Usage	Repeatable	Table
1	`set_id_lan`	`SI`	Required	No	-
2	▶`language_code`	`CWE`	Required	No	`HL70296`
2.1	├`.identifier`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
2.2	├`.text`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
2.3	├`.name_of_coding_system`	`ID`	Optional	No	-
2.4	├`.alternate_identifier`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
2.5	├`.alternate_text`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
2.6	├`.name_of_alternate_coding_system`	`ID`	Optional	No	-
2.7	├`.coding_system_version_id`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
2.8	├`.alternate_coding_system_version_id`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
2.9	├`.original_text`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
2.10	├`.second_alternate_identifier`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
2.11	├`.second_alternate_text`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
2.12	├`.name_of_second_alternate_coding_system`	`ID`	Optional	No	-
2.13	├`.second_alternate_coding_system_version_id`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
2.14	├`.coding_system_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
2.15	├`.value_set_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
2.16	├`.value_set_version_id`	`DTM`	Optional	No	-
2.17	├`.alternate_coding_system_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
2.18	├`.alternate_value_set_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
2.19	├`.alternate_value_set_version_id`	`DTM`	Optional	No	-
2.20	├`.second_alternate_coding_system_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
2.21	├`.second_alternate_value_set_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
2.22	└`.second_alternate_value_set_version_id`	`DTM`	Optional	No	-
3	▶`language_ability_code`	`CWE`	Optional	Yes	`HL70403`
3.1	├`.identifier`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
3.2	├`.text`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
3.3	├`.name_of_coding_system`	`ID`	Optional	No	-
3.4	├`.alternate_identifier`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
3.5	├`.alternate_text`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
3.6	├`.name_of_alternate_coding_system`	`ID`	Optional	No	-
3.7	├`.coding_system_version_id`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
3.8	├`.alternate_coding_system_version_id`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
3.9	├`.original_text`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
3.10	├`.second_alternate_identifier`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
3.11	├`.second_alternate_text`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
3.12	├`.name_of_second_alternate_coding_system`	`ID`	Optional	No	-
3.13	├`.second_alternate_coding_system_version_id`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
3.14	├`.coding_system_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
3.15	├`.value_set_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
3.16	├`.value_set_version_id`	`DTM`	Optional	No	-
3.17	├`.alternate_coding_system_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
3.18	├`.alternate_value_set_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
3.19	├`.alternate_value_set_version_id`	`DTM`	Optional	No	-
3.20	├`.second_alternate_coding_system_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
3.21	├`.second_alternate_value_set_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
3.22	└`.second_alternate_value_set_version_id`	`DTM`	Optional	No	-
4	▶`language_proficiency_code`	`CWE`	Optional	No	`HL70404`
4.1	├`.identifier`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
4.2	├`.text`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
4.3	├`.name_of_coding_system`	`ID`	Optional	No	-
4.4	├`.alternate_identifier`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
4.5	├`.alternate_text`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
4.6	├`.name_of_alternate_coding_system`	`ID`	Optional	No	-
4.7	├`.coding_system_version_id`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
4.8	├`.alternate_coding_system_version_id`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
4.9	├`.original_text`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
4.10	├`.second_alternate_identifier`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
4.11	├`.second_alternate_text`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
4.12	├`.name_of_second_alternate_coding_system`	`ID`	Optional	No	-
4.13	├`.second_alternate_coding_system_version_id`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
4.14	├`.coding_system_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
4.15	├`.value_set_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
4.16	├`.value_set_version_id`	`DTM`	Optional	No	-
4.17	├`.alternate_coding_system_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
4.18	├`.alternate_value_set_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
4.19	├`.alternate_value_set_version_id`	`DTM`	Optional	No	-
4.20	├`.second_alternate_coding_system_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
4.21	├`.second_alternate_value_set_oid`	`ST`	Optional	No	-
4.22	└`.second_alternate_value_set_version_id`	`DTM`	Optional	No	-

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