What precedes and ends a message batch?

The batch message structure in HL7 is designed to organize and manage groups of messages effectively. The correct answer highlights the essential components of a batch message: the BHS (Batch Header Segment) and the BTS (Batch Trailer Segment).

The BHS segment initiates a batch of messages and contains important metadata regarding the batch, such as its control numbers, creation date, and message type. This information is critical for systems processing the batch to understand its context and handle the contained messages appropriately.

The BTS segment marks the end of the batch, providing closure by containing details that summarize the batch’s contents, such as counts of messages included and any errors encountered during processing. This structure is vital for ensuring that the messages are interpreted in a coherent sequence and that any processing issues can be easily identified.

While the FHS (File Header) and FTS (File Trailer) segments are relevant in the context of file-based transmissions in HL7, they serve a different purpose compared to the batch-specific segments. The FHS and FTS are used when dealing with an entire file of messages rather than individual batches, which clarifies why the components surrounding a message batch are accurately identified as the BHS and BTS.