> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.elationhealth.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Message Header (MSH)

R = required. O = optional `YYYYMMDDhhmm` are in 24hr format char(x) means maximum x characters

| seq | type             | opt | Description                                                                                                                            |
| --- | ---------------- | --- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 3   | char(5)          | R   | PATH: pathology report RAD: imaging/radiology report TRANS: transcription/hospital `reportNull` or all other values: laboratory report |
| 4   | char(50)         | R   | Sending Facility ID                                                                                                                    |
| 6   | char(50)         | R   | Receiving Facility ID                                                                                                                  |
| 7   | `YYYYMMDDhhmmss` | R   | Date/Time Of Message                                                                                                                   |

<CodeGroup>
  ```text text theme={null}
  MSH|^~\&|TRANS|LVMH||SFMH|20160918200148|||||
  MSH|^~\&|RAD|LVMH||SFMH|20160918200148|||||
  ```
</CodeGroup>

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/elationhealth/aZGpvx7JjGPeyovG/images/ffae396-Screen_Shot_2016-11-03_at_3.00.51_PM.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=aZGpvx7JjGPeyovG&q=85&s=ffd12616ccc250bb553381e45758f46d" alt="1140" width="1140" height="764" data-path="images/ffae396-Screen_Shot_2016-11-03_at_3.00.51_PM.png" />
