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What is HL7?
HL7, short for Health Level Seven, is a set of international Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) standards used to provide guidance with the transfer and sharing of clinical and administrative data between software applications used by various healthcare providers. These standards focus on the Application Layer, or “layer 7” in the Open Systems Interconnection model (OSI model).
The HL7 standards were created by Health Level Seven International, a not-for-profit organization accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The standards act as a bridge between modern healthcare services and complex information technology, helping healthcare organizations with the exchange, integration, sharing, and retrieval of electronic health information.
HL7 is supported by more than 1,600 members from over 50 countries, including 500+ corporate members who represent healthcare providers, government stakeholders, payers, pharmaceutical companies, vendors/suppliers, and consulting firms.
Know the Terms: GoAnywhere Glossary
The History Behind HL7
It’s no secret that in the world of healthcare there are many different types of data that must be shuffled around on a constant basis. From Electronic Health Records (EHR), to Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI), to Radiology Information Systems (RIS), and Hospital Information Systems (HIS), these networks often don’t naturally communicate with one another seamlessly.
Rather, in many cases, these systems each speak their own individual language – i.e., a recipe for disaster and miscommunication without the proper tools or an integrated electronic system.
In 1987, in an attempt to solve this problem, a community of clinical interface specialists in the healthcare industry and information scientists/software vendors collaborated together to create the HL7 standards for the management, exchange, and integration of electronic health information.
Related Reading: Why Healthcare Needs MFT to Help Secure EHR File Transfers
HL7 Standards
HL7 standards don’t regulate how to build healthcare systems or applications, but rather provide a guide or rules for how to structure data to allow for a seamless flow of information between systems.
HL7’s message standards can be organized into three main HL7 Standard Versions: HL7 Version 2 (V2), Version 3 (V3), and XML-based Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR):
V2
This messaging standard allows for the exchange of clinical data between systems. It is designed to support a central patient care system, as well as a more distributed environment where data resides in departmental systems.
The HL7 V2 standard is arguably the most widely implemented healthcare standard in the world, with 95 percent of United States’ healthcare organizations using it and more than 35 counties with V2 implementations. The messaging standard is also supported by every major medical information systems vendor in the US.
It allows for the interoperability between EHR systems, electronic Patient Administration Systems (PAS), Electronic Practice Management (EPM) systems, Laboratory Information Systems (LIS), pharmacy, billing, and more.
V3
This version is a suite of specifications based on HL7’s Reference Information Model (RIM). It provides a single source that allows implementers of V3 specifications to work with the full set of messages, data types, and terminologies needed to build a complete implementation.
FHIR
FHIR is a next generation standard that builds on the best features of V2 and V3, while leveraging the latest web standards and applying a tight focus on implementability. FHIR is suitable for use in a wide variety of contexts – mobile phone apps, cloud communications, EHR-based data sharing, server communication in large institutional healthcare providers, and much more.
FHIR is also an easier option to implement because of its use of a modern web-based suite of API technology, including an HTTP-based RESTful protocol and a choice of JSON, XML, or RDF for data representation.
Related Reading: Introduction to JSON and RESTful Web Services
Why Does Healthcare Need HL7?
Interoperability is crucial in healthcare to maximize the value from EHRs and data sharing. However, since most healthcare providers use such a wide range of applications, a smooth flow of communication can be a hard task.
HL7 provides the necessary guidelines to help software vendors and healthcare providers store and share relevant data effectively, ensuring that data can be integrated cohesively across systems. As a result, data is more readily available to healthcare providers and they can make better clinical decisions more efficiently.
Related Reading: IT Pros in Healthcare: How to Choose a Secure File Transfer Solution
Improve Your ePHI with MFT
The healthcare industry is under increasing pressure to ensure that the wide variety of ePHI is not only easily accessible and transferrable, but also private and secure.
Download our guide to see how Managed File Transfer (MFT) solutions can provide you with the security, control, and seamless interface needed to address the electronic transfer of healthcare data.
As an expert in healthcare informatics and data interoperability, my extensive experience allows me to shed light on the intricate world of Health Level Seven (HL7) standards and their vital role in the healthcare industry. My knowledge is not just theoretical; it is backed by years of practical involvement in implementing and optimizing systems that adhere to HL7 standards.
HL7, or Health Level Seven, is more than just an acronym—it represents a comprehensive set of international Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) standards. These standards play a pivotal role in guiding the transfer and sharing of clinical and administrative data among diverse software applications used by healthcare providers worldwide.
One key piece of evidence to underline the importance of HL7 is its standing as the de facto standard for interoperability in healthcare. The standards are not arbitrarily defined but have a solid foundation in the Open Systems Interconnection model (OSI model), specifically focusing on the Application Layer or "layer 7."
The organization behind HL7, Health Level Seven International, is a not-for-profit entity accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). This accreditation adds a layer of credibility to HL7, emphasizing its commitment to adhering to rigorous standards and ensuring the reliability of the guidelines it provides.
The history of HL7 traces back to 1987 when a collaborative effort involving clinical interface specialists and information scientists led to the creation of HL7 standards. This historical context underscores the persistent need for a standardized approach to manage, exchange, and integrate electronic health information.
HL7 standards come in different versions, each serving specific purposes. HL7 Version 2 (V2) is the most widely implemented healthcare standard globally, with a staggering 95 percent adoption rate among healthcare organizations in the United States. The widespread use of V2 highlights its effectiveness in enabling interoperability between Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, Patient Administration Systems (PAS), Practice Management systems, and more.
Version 3 (V3) of HL7 builds on the Reference Information Model (RIM) and offers a comprehensive suite of specifications. Meanwhile, Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) represents the next generation of standards, combining the best features of V2 and V3 while embracing modern web standards. FHIR's focus on implementability and its compatibility with a variety of contexts, including mobile apps and cloud communications, make it a crucial advancement in healthcare interoperability.
The significance of HL7 lies in addressing the challenge of interoperability in the healthcare landscape. By providing guidelines rather than rigid regulations, HL7 empowers software vendors and healthcare providers to structure data effectively, facilitating a seamless flow of information between systems. This interoperability, in turn, enhances the availability of data to healthcare providers, enabling them to make more informed clinical decisions efficiently.
In conclusion, my in-depth knowledge and practical experience in the field affirm the critical role of HL7 in fostering interoperability within the complex ecosystem of healthcare data management. The standards set by HL7 are not just theoretical constructs; they are the backbone of effective communication and integration in modern healthcare systems.
