Clinical Document Architecture

Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) is a standardized way of creating, sharing, and storing electronic health records. It ensures that medical documents—like reports, summaries, and discharge notes—are formatted consistently, making it easier for healthcare providers and systems to exchange accurate and complete patient information securely. CDA uses a structured, machine-readable format embedded in familiar documents, supporting interoperability across different healthcare organizations and electronic health record systems. This standard helps improve care coordination, safety, and efficiency by ensuring that critical health information can be easily accessed and understood across various platforms.