Building Seamless Interoperability with HL7: A step-by-step guide for the curious

Healthcare interoperability is the backbone of seamless data exchange between systems, facilities, and care providers. As healthcare IT professionals and leaders, navigating HL7 (Health Level Seven) is critical for achieving a connected healthcare ecosystem.

This guide will walk you through building, configuring, and managing HL7 integrations. It will help your healthcare system speak the same language as others and ensure patient information moves smoothly and securely.

Understanding HL7: The Why and How
Before jumping into the technical process, it’s essential to understand what HL7 is and why it matters.

What is HL7?
HL7 is a set of international standards for transferring clinical and administrative data between hospital information systems. Think of it as a translator that helps different electronic health record (EHR) systems and other healthcare apps communicate.

Why HL7?
Data silos slow down patient care, increase risks of errors, and can hinder clinical outcomes. HL7 standards enable interoperability, ensuring data moves safely between systems in a standardized format.