scope:

This document contains the specifications for Version 2.5 of the Health Level Seven (HL7) Standard for electronic
data exchange in all healthcare environments, with special emphasis on inpatient acute care facilities (i.e.,
hospitals). It summarizes the work of a committee of healthcare providers (i.e., users), vendors and consultants
established in March 1987 on the occasion of a conference hosted by Dr. Sam Schultz at the Hospital of the
University of Pennsylvania. Its participants, who represent users as well as vendors, share a common goal of
simplifying the implementation of interfaces between computer applications from different, and often competing,
vendors. This committee, which subsequently became known as the HL7 Working Group, endeavors to standardize
the format and protocol for the exchange of certain key sets of data among healthcare computer application systems.
Meetings are held approximately every four months in scattered locations throughout the United States. HL7
sanctioned national groups also exist in many other countries outside of the United States including Australia,
Canada, China, Finland, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Southern Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, The
Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
This document is being presented to interested parties. It is a status report that is periodically published to solicit
the involvement of the broadest possible group of participants as this protocol is being put into use. Comments are
solicited on all aspects of the Standard.
This effort is expected to yield a balloted standard that is open to all who develop healthcare data processing
systems. As the Standard has been put into production, experience has been gained and is reflected in this latest
revision.
There have been two parallel efforts since the publication of Version 2.2. First, Version 2.3 represents an
evolutionary change over Version 2.2 that was published in December 1994. Version 2.3 is the result of more than
two years work, and thousands of hours of volunteer effort by active HL7 members since the publication of Version
2.2. Its primary goals include maintaining backward compatibility with Version 2.2, correcting errors discovered
after the publication of 2.2, and extending the Standard within the format and context of Version 2.2.
HL7 is operating under formal bylaws and balloting procedures. These procedures are modeled on the balloting
procedures of other relevant healthcare industry computer messaging standards organizations (e.g., ASTM) and are
designed to conform to the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). HL7 is participating
in ANSI's Healthcare Informatics Standards Board (HISB). In June 1994, HL7 became an ANSI Accredited
Standards Developing Organization. Version 2.2 of HL7 was accepted by ANSI as an accredited standard in 1996