Which standard defines a series of predefined logical formats for packaging healthcare data in the form of messages?

The standard that defines a series of predefined logical formats for packaging healthcare data in the form of messages is Health Level Seven (HL7). HL7 establishes protocols for the exchange, integration, sharing, and retrieval of electronic health information. It provides a framework that ensures data sent between systems is structured and adheres to specific formats, making communication across different healthcare entities seamless and efficient.

HL7 messages are designed to represent clinical and administrative data in a standardized way, allowing various healthcare organizations, software applications, and systems to interact with one another smoothly. This standardization plays a crucial role in promoting interoperability, which is essential for delivering high-quality patient care in today's complex healthcare environment.

The other standards mentioned, such as LOINC and SNOMED, focus on specific types of healthcare data: LOINC provides a standardized set of codes for laboratory tests and clinical observations, while SNOMED offers a comprehensive clinical terminology that aids in coding and sharing clinical information. DICOM, on the other hand, is primarily related to medical imaging and the management of imaging data. These other standards do not define message formats as HL7 does, which is why Health Level Seven is the correct choice for packaging healthcare data into messages.