--- title: The Role of HL7 in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Landscape description: CME’s experts help you take EMRs to the next level with EMR ready medical equipment. Digital transfer of data to patient records reduces errors. image: https://blog.cmecorp.com/hubfs/female-doctor-holding-tablet-that-showing-medical-record-form-in-hands-with-blank-electronic.jpg_s=1024x1024%26w=is%26k=20%26c=mNjaKvgtbrdJ5JmcBG14-1vl3qCS020hIcPl2JiskXM=.jpg --- - Welcome! - [Sign In](https://www.cmecorp.com/customer/account/login/referer/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY21lY29ycC5jb20v/) - or - [Create an Account](https://www.cmecorp.com/customer/account/create/) - [![](https://www.cmecorp.com/media/public/icons8-phone-50.png) 800.338.2372](tel:8003382372) [![CME Corp](https://blog.cmecorp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CME_CORP_LOGO_FIN_2018_PMS_300dpi-1.png?width=1331&height=442&name=CME_CORP_LOGO_FIN_2018_PMS_300dpi-1.png "CME Corp")](http://www.cmecorp.com) [Find My Account Manager](https://www.cmecorp.com/about/contact-us.html) | [Contact Us](https://www.cmecorp.com/about/contact-us.html) Search: ![](https://blog.cmecorp.com/hubfs/_images/search-icon.jpg) [![](https://blog.cmecorp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/_images/mini-cart.jpg?width=23&height=21&name=mini-cart.jpg)](http://www.cmecorp.com/checkout/cart/) - [CME Expertise](https://www.cmecorp.com/cme-expertise.html) - [Hospitals / IDNs](https://www.cmecorp.com/cme-expertise/hospitals.html) - [Laboratory](https://www.cmecorp.com/cme-expertise/laboratory.html) - [Imaging](https://www.cmecorp.com/cme-expertise/imaging.html) - [Pharmacy & Compounding Pharmacy](https://www.cmecorp.com/cme-expertise/pharmacy-and-compounding-pharmacy.html) - [Surgery Centers](https://www.cmecorp.com/cme-expertise/surgery-centers.html) - [Clinics](https://www.cmecorp.com/cme-expertise/clinics.html) - [Physician Offices](https://www.cmecorp.com/cme-expertise/physician-offices.html) - [Behavioral Health Facilities](https://www.cmecorp.com/cme-expertise/behavioral-health.html) - [Long Term Care](https://www.cmecorp.com/cme-expertise/long-term-care.html) - [Rehabilitation Centers](https://www.cmecorp.com/cme-expertise/rehabilitation.html) - [Government Services](https://www.cmecorp.com/cme-expertise/government.html) - [Emergency Medical Services](https://www.cmecorp.com/cme-expertise/emergency-medical-services.html) - [Integrated Services](https://www.cmecorp.com/integrated-services.html) - [CAD-Based Layout & Design](https://www.cmecorp.com/integrated-services/cad-based-layout-and-design.html) - [Project Management](https://www.cmecorp.com/integrated-services/project-management.html) - [Direct-to-Site Services](https://www.cmecorp.com/integrated-services/direct-to-site-services.html) - [Biomedical Services & Technical Solutions](https://www.cmecorp.com/integrated-services/biomedical-services.html) - [Contractor Specialties](https://www.cmecorp.com/integrated-services/contractor-specialties.html) - [Find Products](https://www.cmecorp.com/shop.html) - [Shop By Category](https://www.cmecorp.com/new-shop/shop-by-category.html) - [Shop By Manufacturer](https://www.cmecorp.com/new-shop/brands.html) - [Digital Solutions Guide](https://cmesolutionsguide.com/) # The Role of HL7 in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Landscape [![](https://blog.cmecorp.com/hubfs/female-doctor-holding-tablet-that-showing-medical-record-form-in-hands-with-blank-electronic.jpg_s=1024x1024%26w=is%26k=20%26c=mNjaKvgtbrdJ5JmcBG14-1vl3qCS020hIcPl2JiskXM=.jpg)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/role-of-hl7-in-the-electronic-healthcare-landscape) By [CME Corp Staff](https://blog.cmecorp.com/author/cme-corp-staff) | July 25, 2023 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Technology these days is amazing. It seems that whatever information we need is just a click away. This is especially true in healthcare. Gone are the days of waiting for records from another provider or standing watch over the FAX machine to grab sensitive Personal Health Information (PHI) before someone who shouldn’t, sees it. Although it’s a bit cliché, local Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and the bigger Electronic Health Record (EHR) landscape *have* revolutionized how we diagnose and treat patients. They have created integrated care. How does it all work? How does a physician know that Alex broke an arm last summer? How does the ER know that Cameron is taking a prescription medication when Cameron is incapacitated and cannot speak? It’s the technological wizardry of HL7 and HL7 integration software. What? HL7 – Health Level Seven. Accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in 1994, **HL7 is a set of international formatting standards used to transfer and share data amongst healthcare providers.** In very simple terms an HL7 software interface bridges the gap between the myriad of health IT platforms and allows information and messages to flow in multiple directions. Think of it as a Rosetta Stone for EMR systems. Regardless of the “language” of the healthcare software platform, the **standard format of the patient data is sharable across providers.**   ## **Telling the Story** To demonstrate the role of HL7 in the big EHR picture here’s a fictional healthcare journey. ![The Role of HL7 in Electronic Health Records (EHR) (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Role%20of%20HL7%20in%20Electronic%20Health%20Records%20(EHR)%20(5).png?width=560&height=324&name=The%20Role%20of%20HL7%20in%20Electronic%20Health%20Records%20(EHR)%20(5).png)   A patient, Chris, has an annual exam with a Dr. Physician. Prior to the exam Chris had some laboratory work done. Arriving at the appointment Chris shares some PHI at check-in. The intake nurse takes vital signs and weight that are recorded directly into Chris’s local Electronic Medical Record (EMR). During the exam the Physician accesses the laboratory results from the lab on a tablet to discuss them with Chris. At the conclusion of the visit, Dr. Physician makes notes about the visit and writes an electronic script for a medication.   **Laboratory results are *shared to* the Physician through an HL7 interface. Prescription and billing information are *shared from* the EMR to the pharmacy and insurance company through the HL7 Interface.** A few months later Chris is coming around third and slides into home for the game winning homerun. But, breaks an ankle in the process. At the local emergency walk-in, the intake nurse accesses Chris’ PHI through the EHR that includes information from Dr. Physician’s office and takes some vital signs that are recorded directly into Chris’ EMR at the walk-in. The attending physician sends Chris to Radiology for images of the ankle. Chris’s PHI is already there along with the x-ray order. Chris’s digital X-Rays are archived in a Picture Archiving & Communication System (PACS) that is accessible by the Radiologist and the walk-in Physician. Notes from the Radiologist will be shared to Chris’s EMR at the walk-in and Chris’s EMR at the primary physician’s office. **Radiology accessed Chris’ PHI through an HL7 interface and will share the x-ray images and Radiologist’s findings using standard HL7 formats**. Next year at an annual physical, Dr. Physician asks about the ankle before Chris has an opportunity to share the information. **Messages sent through an HL7 interface ensure that providers have a complete picture of a patient’s health events.** At every stop in Chris’ fictional healthcare journey information is readily available through the EHR. This shared information is made possible with HL7 standard formatting and HL7 integration software that connects individual EMR’s, billing, health insurance, and specialists for truly integrated care. HL7 also offers a framework that supports the data environment required for the growing number of personal health devices such as wearable heart monitors and insulin pumps that feed data into a patient EHR. *Pretty slick.*   ## **The Takeaway** Cloud based, server based, or hosted by a third party, **EMRs/EHRs reduce errors, save time, and reduce cost** in an industry laboring under staffing shortages, an aging population, and the rising cost of doing business. CME’s experts are ready to help you take EMRs to the next level with EMR ready medical equipment. EMR ready equipment such as [vital signs monitors](https://www.cmecorp.com/catalogsearch/result?q=vital+signs) and [scales](https://www.cmecorp.com/shop/shop-by-category/scales.html) format information ( e.g. blood pressure or weight) so it can be electronically transferred (sometimes through an integration engine) to a receiving product like an EMR. An [ECG](https://www.cmecorp.com/catalogsearch/result?q=ECG) is another example of medical equipment that is ready to exchange information with EHRs and PACS via LAN or Wireless LAN connectivity. The immediate digital transfer of data from an EMR ready medical device to the patient record greatly reduces transcription errors. Additionally, the time required to update records is reduced, freeing staff for more patient focused tasks. [Contact us](https://www.cmecorp.com/about/contact-us.html) to discuss how EMR Ready medical equipment is the right choice for your healthcare setting.   --- **About CME:** CME Corp is the nation’s premier source for [healthcare equipment](https://www.cmecorp.com/solutions/capital-equipment.html?utm_source=hubspot&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=cme%20insiders), [turnkey logistics](https://www.cmecorp.com/solutions/direct-to-site-services.html?utm_source=hubspot&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=cme%20insiders), and [biomedical services](https://www.cmecorp.com/solutions/biomedical-services.html?utm_source=hubspot&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=cme%20insiders), representing 2 million+ products from more than 2,000 manufacturers. With two corporate offices and 35+ service centers, our mission is to help [healthcare facilities](https://www.cmecorp.com/who-we-serve.html?utm_source=hubspot&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=cme%20insiders) nationwide reduce the cost of the equipment they purchase, make their equipment specification, delivery, installation, and maintenance processes more efficient, and help them seamlessly launch, renovate and expand on schedule. [Capital Medical Equipment](https://blog.cmecorp.com/topic/capital-medical-equipment) [CME Corp](https://blog.cmecorp.com/topic/cme-corp) [EMR](https://blog.cmecorp.com/topic/emr) ![](https://blog.cmecorp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.png?height=100&name=logo.png) Written by [CME Corp Staff](https://blog.cmecorp.com/author/cme-corp-staff) CME Corp's staff explores and presents the latest findings, news, and trends of the healthcare industry. ### Posts by Tag - [June 2017 (14)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2017/06) - [October 2017 (8)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2017/10) - [September 2023 (8)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2023/09) - [November 2015 (7)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2015/11) - [December 2015 (7)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2015/12) - [July 2017 (7)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2017/07) - [September 2017 (7)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2017/09) - [November 2017 (7)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2017/11) - [October 2023 (7)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2023/10) - [August 2026 (7)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2026/08) - [August 2014 (6)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2014/08) - [June 2016 (6)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2016/06) - [February 2018 (6)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2018/02) - [April 2018 (6)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2018/04) - [May 2018 (6)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2018/05) - [August 2025 (6)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2025/08) - [July 2014 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2014/07) - [September 2014 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2014/09) - [January 2017 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2017/01) - [December 2017 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2017/12) - [November 2021 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2021/11) - [June 2023 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2023/06) - [August 2023 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2023/08) - [November 2023 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2023/11) - [January 2024 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2024/01) - [April 2024 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2024/04) - [August 2024 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2024/08) - [October 2024 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2024/10) - [January 2025 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2025/01) - [April 2025 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2025/04) - [May 2025 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2025/05) - [July 2025 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2025/07) - [September 2025 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2025/09) - [April 2026 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2026/04) - [June 2026 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2026/06) - [September 2026 (5)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2026/09) - [June 2014 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2014/06) - [December 2014 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2014/12) - [April 2015 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2015/04) - [May 2016 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2016/05) - [December 2016 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2016/12) - [February 2017 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2017/02) - [May 2020 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2020/05) - [March 2021 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2021/03) - [April 2021 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2021/04) - [May 2021 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2021/05) - [September 2021 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2021/09) - [August 2022 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2022/08) - [April 2023 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2023/04) - [May 2023 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2023/05) - [July 2023 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2023/07) - [December 2023 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2023/12) - [February 2024 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2024/02) - [March 2024 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2024/03) - [May 2024 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2024/05) - [June 2024 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2024/06) - [July 2024 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2024/07) - [September 2024 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2024/09) - [December 2024 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2024/12) - [February 2025 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2025/02) - [March 2025 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2025/03) - [June 2025 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2025/06) - [October 2025 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2025/10) - [November 2025 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2025/11) - [December 2025 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2025/12) - [January 2026 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2026/01) - [February 2026 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2026/02) - [March 2026 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2026/03) - [May 2026 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2026/05) - [July 2026 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2026/07) - [October 2026 (4)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2026/10) - [March 2014 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2014/03) - [April 2014 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2014/04) - [May 2014 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2014/05) - [May 2015 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2015/05) - [September 2015 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2015/09) - [October 2015 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2015/10) - [January 2016 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2016/01) - [April 2017 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2017/04) - [January 2018 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2018/01) - [July 2018 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2018/07) - [March 2019 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2019/03) - [June 2019 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2019/06) - [March 2020 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2020/03) - [June 2021 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2021/06) - [July 2021 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2021/07) - [March 2022 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2022/03) - [May 2022 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2022/05) - [June 2022 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2022/06) - [September 2022 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2022/09) - [November 2022 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2022/11) - [February 2023 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2023/02) - [November 2024 (3)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2024/11) - [October 2014 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2014/10) - [January 2015 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2015/01) - [July 2015 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2015/07) - [August 2015 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2015/08) - [February 2016 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2016/02) - [March 2016 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2016/03) - [November 2016 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2016/11) - [May 2017 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2017/05) - [August 2017 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2017/08) - [March 2018 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2018/03) - [July 2019 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2019/07) - [January 2020 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2020/01) - [February 2020 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2020/02) - [August 2020 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2020/08) - [September 2020 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2020/09) - [October 2020 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2020/10) - [February 2021 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2021/02) - [August 2021 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2021/08) - [October 2021 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2021/10) - [January 2022 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2022/01) - [April 2022 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2022/04) - [January 2023 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2023/01) - [March 2023 (2)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2023/03) - [November 2014 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2014/11) - [February 2015 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2015/02) - [March 2015 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2015/03) - [April 2016 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2016/04) - [July 2016 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2016/07) - [August 2016 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2016/08) - [September 2016 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2016/09) - [March 2017 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2017/03) - [August 2018 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2018/08) - [September 2018 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2018/09) - [October 2018 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2018/10) - [January 2019 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2019/01) - [April 2019 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2019/04) - [April 2020 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2020/04) - [June 2020 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2020/06) - [July 2020 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2020/07) - [November 2020 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2020/11) - [December 2020 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2020/12) - [July 2022 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2022/07) - [October 2022 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2022/10) - [December 2022 (1)](https://blog.cmecorp.com/archive/2022/12) See all #### About CME Corp. - [Our Company](https://www.cmecorp.com/about/our-company.html) - [Careers](https://www.cmecorp.com/about/careers.html) #### Resources - [CME Insider's Blog](https://blog.cmecorp.com/) - [Case Studies](https://www.cmecorp.com/about/case-studies.html) - [Newsroom](https://blog.cmecorp.com/press-releases) - [Literature Resources](https://resources.cmecorp.com/) #### Quick Links - [Find Products](https://www.cmecorp.com/shop) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.cmecorp.com/privacy-policy-cookie-restriction-mode) - [Sales, Shipping & Return Policies](https://www.cmecorp.com/sales-shipping) - [Credit Application](https://www.cmecorp.com/about/credit-application.html) [![](https://www.cmecorp.com/media/public/linked_in_blog.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/cme-medical/) [![](https://www.cmecorp.com/media/public/facebook_blog.png)](https://www.facebook.com/cmecorp/) [![](https://www.cmecorp.com/media/public/instagram_blog.png)](https://www.instagram.com/cme_corp/) © 2026 CME Corp - An ESOP Company Delivering a Better Experience