Network Protocols Glossary
What is a network protocol? Protocols are the rules of the road for how data exists and moves on the network. They allow many different systems and computers to communicate.
HealthLevel 7 (HL7) Protocol
What is HealthLevel 7 (HL7) Protocol ?
HL7 (Health Level 7) is a standardized messaging protocol used in healthcare to exchange electronic health information (EHI) between different healthcare systems and applications. It provides a common language for sharing patient data, clinical information, and administrative data.
What is the purpose of HL7 Protocol
HL7 uses a client server model to communicate. First, a client application (e.g., an electronic health record system) sends a request to a server application (e.g., a laboratory information system). HL7 messages are structured using a hierarchical format, consisting of segments, fields, and components. A segment is a group of related fields, a field is a single data element, and a component is a part of a field. HL7 defines a variety of message types, each with a specific purpose. HL7 messages can be triggered by various events, such as patient admissions, test orders, or changes to patient information. Some common message types include:
- ADT (Admission, Discharge, Transfer): Used for patient registration, discharge, and transfers.
- ORM (Observation Request): Used to request laboratory or other tests.
- ORU (Observation Result): Used to report the results of a test.
- ORU_R2: A specific variant of the ORU message used for radiology results.