HL7
Founded in 1987, Health Level Seven International (HL7) is a not-for-profit, ANSI-accredited standards developing organization dedicated to providing a comprehensive framework and related standards for the exchange, integration, sharing, and retrieval of electronic health information that supports clinical practice and the management, delivery and evaluation of health services. HL7 is supported by more than 1,600 members from over 50 countries, including 500+ corporate members representing healthcare providers, government stakeholders, payers, pharmaceutical companies, vendors/suppliers, and consulting firms.
Health Level Seven® INTERNATIONAL
Watch a quick overview of Why HL7? Learn more about HL7 by viewing the Introduction to HL7 Flash Tour from 2008
Vision
A world in which everyone can securely access and use the right health data when and where they need it.
Mission
To provide standards that empower global health data interoperability.
What Does it Mean?
"Level Seven" refers to the seventh level of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) seven-layer communications model for Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) - the application level. The application level interfaces directly to and performs common application services for the application processes. Although other protocols have largely superseded it, the OSI model remains valuable as a place to begin the study of network architecture.
Guide to Using HL7 Trademarks
Understanding Health Level Seven-owned Trademarks
Annual Report
Procedures
- HL7 Essential Requirements: Due Process Requirements for HL7 American National Standards (pdf)
- HL7 Governance and Operations Manual (pdf)
People and Organizations
See a list of the people and organizations involved with HL7 or download the HL7 Organizational Chart.