Introduction to HL7 v2
HL7 Version 2 is a messaging standard for exchanging information between different healthcare systems. It provides a common structure for healthcare messages, allowing systems such as EHRs, laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, and billing systems to exchange information in a consistent way.
What problem does HL7 v2 solve?
When a doctor orders a laboratory test, the request travels across multiple systems to get the test results back to the EHR.
First of all, the doctor will place an order through their system. The order will then reach the laboratory system. The laboratory system will process the request and initiate the test procedures. Once the test results are processed, they need to be sent back to the same EHR that placed the order. At the same time, the billing system may need the information to generate an invoice and update the patient’s financial account.
All of this information exchange would be difficult without a common communication standard, as every system would need custom logic to communicate with every other system. This is the problem that HL7 v2 solves.
Difference between HL7 and HL7 v2
HL7 v2 was developed in the late 1980s by HL7, an organization that develops healthcare interoperability standards and is now known as HL7 International. HL7 v2 is one of the messaging standards developed by the organization.
Today, people often use the terms HL7 and HL7 v2 interchangeably because HL7 v2 is one of most widely used standards that has been developed by HL7.
Resources
Below are the resources that we will keep referring to across the upcoming lessons.
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We have our own HL7 v2 message editor and validator - HL7 Studio
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Then we have simplified version of the official HL7 v2 (v2.5.1) Specifications - HL7 V2 Specifications
If you want, you can also download the official HL7 v2 (version 2.5.1) here - Official Doc
Next
That was an overview of the HL7 v2. In the next lesson, we will learn about the Structure of the HL7 v2 message.
