What Is The Role Of HL7 In The World Of Digital Healthcare?

Just like almost every field in the world, even the world of healthcare is being revolutionized by digitalization. Starting from high-end software and programs to a whole lot of healthcare mobile applications, there is a lot that’s being done to transform the healthcare space. When it comes to the hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutes, they have already started using a plenty of new-age healthcare programs and solutions. These programs are basically designed to smoothen the workflow, and to make the operations and other activities quick and convenient. At the same time, there are a lot of healthcare applications which are being used by the patients as well. Hence, we can say that the digitalization of healthcare is benefiting both, the practitioners as well as the patients. However, the makers of the healthcare IT services need a certain standardized protocol to make the solutions. Also, they need to follow a host of set rules in order to make the program, as healthcare is a sensitive space to be in.

Use of digital space needs recording and transferring of data

Now, when it comes to the utilization of the digital space for healthcare related activities, there is definitely a certain amount of data which is being recorded and transferred. For example, the ‘Electronic Health Record’ programs are designed to help the practitioners save and use patient’s data. And, there are patient facing EHRS and a plenty of EMRs and mobile applications which help the patients to save their important health information which is further used to get better care. Therefore, there is no doubt about the fact that data is not just being stored and transferred, but some amount of data is also generated by the digitalization of healthcare. However, when it comes to the storage and transfer of data, there is certain amount of security required. The healthcare programs, solutions and the mobile apps are required to follow a certain set of principles and guidelines in order to make these apps. At the same time,

How popular is HL7?

Healthcare programs and apps require a standardized way to communicate with a generic protocol which is required to share data safely. It is exactly like we need a generic way to communicate. The HL7 protocol development is not very new, but it is being evolved to make it apt for the new-age healthcare solutions. HL7 was initiated somewhere in 1987. The main aim of this protocol was to enable the healthcare apps to safely transfer clinical data with the other healthcare solutions. However, now, HL7 is recognized worldwide. It is regarded as one of the most popular set of interoperability standards which are being used across the world.

Now, when it comes to the HL7 protocol, it is used in a host of projects. All the apps or programs that need medical device interoperability, they prefer to use HL7. In fact, it may also be implemented to retrieve the databases of several healthcare institutes like hospitals. This can be done to gain access to a host of statistical data. HL7 not only makes doctors’ work easier – it allows patients to digitally manage their healthcare.

What is the role of HL7 and mobile applications?

One of the latest HL7 standard, FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) is regarded as one of the most apt resource for devices like mobiles. Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources is basically centered on the REST architectural style. Therefore, a host of mobile apps are focusing on the efficient management of the data of the care seekers or their electronic health records with the help of a very efficient and safe interface. There are a host of implementation advantages which are associated with the use of FHIR when it comes to the integration of the mobile client and the apps’ server side. In fact, a plenty of mobile app developers have already started developing mobile apps based on the HL7 standard. This way, the apps are not only standardized but also extremely secure.

Health Level 7 is a major revolution and an eminent part of the healthcare world. Therefore, a lot of companies are using the HL7 standard in order to build mobile apps.