Getting Started with HL7

To implement an HL7 interface between two or more applications, providers usually implement either a point-to-point interfacing approach or utilize an interface engine. A white paper which outlines these two approaches is entitled What Is Your Healthcare Interfacing Approach?
Outlined below are three posts worth a read to gain further insights on developing and testing HL7 interfaces.

• Getting Started with Your HL7 Interface:  Highlights what to ask for and what to ask about as it relates to HL7 messaging.
• HL7 Specifications Defined:  Defines what should be included in a healthcare interface specification.
• HL7 Sample Messages – Always the Best Way to Go:  Outlines the importance of getting sample HL7 messages when developing an interface.

 Check out HL7 Resources and the Healthcare Interoperability Glossary for further definitions.

HL7 Standards Adopted in 9 Russian Hospitals

HL7 may soon be the 'adopted standard' for all hospitals migrating to eHealth in Russia.

IBM has announced recently that it has digitized medical records and enabled automation at 9 Russian Hospitals.Designed to provide fast electronic medical record (EMR) exchange and unified access to many types of health care data, while at the same time meeting strict and secure requirements for information in Russia, the automation system was developed by IBM and Complex Medical Information Systems.

An IBM spokesperson informed that nine hospitals are currently using the system, which--using the IBM Health Integration Framework--is the first health care solution in the country to comply with all standards (HL7, HIPAA, and IHE) and "will serve as a roadmap for other hospitals throughout Russia." The CMIS and IBM software touts Interoperability as one of its advantages. By using HL7 standards, the newly installed system facilitates the integration, exchange and sharing of information from multiple applications and systems—among providers, health plans and other stakeholders—to advance the effective delivery of healthcare.

 The CMIS and IBM software touts Interoperability as one of its advantages.The IBM Health Integration Framework is built on HL7 standards allowing for addition of more features in the future. Like this Mobile health device- Minder- that links patients and healthcare professionals at all times, at any location.The Minder is a pocket-sized smart device, powered by Vena that continuously collects medical data in real time and transmits them through cellular networks.

Devices based on Vena can receive data through Bluetooth or USB from any Continua Certified devices and transmit these data through HL7 over cellular networks, thus empowering users to manage health and wellness anytime, anywhere.

Related articles

• IBM to digitize records for Russian hospitals (news.cnet.com)
• The Minder Wireless Device Connects to Collect Patient Medical Data and Transmit Via Wireless Network to Medical Record Systems Via HL7 Standards (ducknetweb.blogspot.com)
• It's HL7: What Can Go Wrong? (healthcareguy.com)

HL7 Standards For Healthcare Interoperability

Starting from the United States and rapidly infecting Health care practices worldwide, there is a boom in eHealth enabling technologies. All such technologies use certain globally accepted standards like Health Level 7 to ensure interoperability. Digital MedCom Solutions, in collaboration with HCIT Consultant , provides Personalized Consultations and Trainings to software industry and healthcare organizations in all things HL7.

Our Popular Training courses are:
Generic

• Healthcare IT
• HL7
• DICOM
• EMRs
• EHRs
• Others

Customized

• Specific Applications
• Specific Processes
• 'Train the Trainer' Processes