Normalizing Data

The Vocera messaging normalizer allows you to map RSIP Gateway Server data by specifying regular expressions that search and replace patient location and patient ID values in the Rauland feed so they are suitable for the Vocera system. A regular expression is a string that is used to find and manipulate text.

If you are unfamiliar with regular expressions, Vocera recommends that you brush up on them before tackling the task of normalizing patient locations and patient IDs. Here are just a few books that will help you learn how to use regular expressions:

• Introducing Regular Expressions - by Michael Fitzgerald
• SAMS Teach Yourself Regular Expressions in 10 Minutes - by Ben Forta
• Mastering Regular Expressions - by Jeffrey E.F. Friedl

There are also several regular expression tutorials and cheat sheets that you can find online.

Why would you need to normalize patient location values? For several reasons but basically because Rauland data such as patient location values do not conform to the conventions for Vocera Voice Server group names.

The example below contains the basic structure of a normalizer XML file and shows the variables that you update to define your mapping rules.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<adt-event-map>
  <event key="event_id"> <-- Define mapping rule here --></event>
  <event key="event_id"> <-- Define mapping rule here --></event>
  <event key="event_id"> <-- Define mapping rule here --></event>
  <event key="event_id"> <-- Define mapping rule here --></event>
</adt-event-map>