BS EN ISO 13120:2019

What is ISO 13120 - Healthcare classification systems about?  

Classification markup language is a syntax to represent the content of healthcare classification systems.

The purpose of classification markup language is to formally represent the content and hierarchical structure of healthcare classification systems in a markup language for the safe exchange and distribution of data and structure between organizations and dissimilar software products. 

Healthcare classification systems covered by ISO 13120 encompasses terminologies and is constrained to traditional paper-based systems and systems built according to categorial structures and a cross thesaurus.  

Classification Markup Language is used for representation of healthcare classification systems in which classes have textual definitions, hierarchical ordering, named hierarchical levels (such as “chapter”, “section”), inclusion and exclusion criteria, and codes.  

NOTE- ISO 13120 does not cover any formal representation, neither for definition nor composition of concepts, nor for specification of classification rules. 

Who is ISO 13120 - Healthcare classification systems for? 

ISO 13120  on healthcare classification systems is useful for: 

• Developers of healthcare classification systems to assist in the construction, maintenance, and publication of their healthcare classification systems 
• Developers of information systems to assist in the inclusion of mechanisms for unambiguous loading of healthcare classification systems into their applications 
• Institutions receiving updated healthcare classification systems 
• Organizations responsible for updating healthcare classification systems 

Why should you use ISO 13120 - Healthcare classification systems?  

Healthcare classification systems are developed and distributed in a variety of informal formats, such as MS Word, with little consistency in approach between developers. Exchanging data from these systems or attempting to parse the informal text into a more formal structure, say for publishing purposes, presents many challenges because mistakes are easily made and difficult to detect. 

To safely exchange and distribute the content and hierarchical structure of healthcare classification systems, ISO 13120 provides you with a simple XML specification, classification markup language (ClaML), for exchange and distribution of healthcare classification systems.  

By conforming to ISO 13120, ClaML helps you in the construction, maintenance and publication (both in paper and electronic formats) of your particular healthcare classification systems. 

What’s changed since the last update?  

BS EN ISO 13120:2019 supersedes ISO 13120:2013, which has been technically revised. BS EN ISO 13120:2019 includes some technical changes with respect to ISO 13120:2013. These include: 

• Alignment of the Classification Markup Language (ClaML) to HTML 
• Replacement of the format ‘Document Type Definition’ (DTD) by an ‘XML Schema Definition’ (XSD) 
• Provision of XSD files and further informative Annexes on the ISO Standards Maintenance Portal 
• Addition of a new Annex C on ‘Different ways of modification’ 
• Complete editorial revision