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Created by
Joshua Procious, last updated by Anne Wizauer on May 05, 2026
9 minute read
Welcome to the HL7 Essentials Space
Whether you're new to HL7 or a seasoned expert, this space was designed to help you navigate the HL7 landscape.
Each section contains links to essential information, tools, or activities for that topic area.
| General Processes | Technical Steering Committee |
| HL7 Organization | Tools |
| HL7 FHIR® | HL7 Terminology |
| HL7 CDA®and C-CDA® | New! HL7 Microlearning Library |
| HL7 V2® |
New to HL7?
- Learn what HL7 actually does - a short informational video hosted on YouTube
- Understanding the HL7 Organization - Webinar explaining how HL7 is organized
- Participating in HL7 - An insider perspective on getting involved from one of our HL7 fellows
- Understanding the Standards Process - A primer on how our standards are created
- HL7 Organizational Chart - The structure of the organization, including staff roles
New Project? Start Here
- HL7 Project Process Flow - View the HL7 project lifecycle
- Navigating the HL7 Processes - a webinar covering HL7's organizational structure, processes, co-chair responsibilities, and HL7 tooling
- Project Proposals - Required before a project scope statement for net new projects
- Project Scope Statement (PSS) - Required to be created, reviewed, and approved for all HL7 projects
- Project Proposal and PSS Frequently Asked Questions - learn about such topics as when proposals and scope statements are required, when and how to create a new PSS vs updating a current PSS, and other procedural details
- Searchable Project Database - search and view the database of HL7 projects
Events, Training, and Education
Working Group Meetings (WGMs) and FHIR® Connectathons are held three times each year. Attendees may register for one or both of the events.
- Register for the Upcoming WGM and/or the FHIR Connectathon (when available)
- WGM Information and Agendas - Agendas for upcoming and past WGMs
In addition to WGMs and Connectathons, HL7 hosts a variety of popular events throughout the year:
If you'd like HL7 to plan and/or host a virtual, onsite, or hybrid event or educational session, click here to submit an event request form!
Our in-person and online education and training programs provide knowledge and support to the global healthcare industry.
General Processes
The following links provide information on the standards process within HL7. See the Product Family sections for product-specific guidance.
- Bylaws
- Governance Operations Manual (GOM) - Defines standard HL7 operating procedures and policies
- HL7 Essential Requirements - Identifies how HL7 complies with the ANSI Essential Requirements which supports HL7's accreditation as an ANSI-accredited Standards Developer (ASD)
- ANSI Processes in HL7 International Nov 7, 2023.mp4 recording and 2023_ANSI_Process_slides.pptx
- Understanding the HL7 Organization - Webinar explaining how HL7 is organized
- Understanding the Standards Process - A primer on how our standards are created
- Terminology Expectations for IG Developers - Guide for using and creating terminology codes or code systems
- Configuring Specification Feedback in JIRA
- HL7 Balloting - Describes the general process, as well as the different ballot types (comment, informative, STU, normative, reaffirmation, and recirculation)
- HL7 Ballots - Link to HL7's Ballot Desktop
- Ballot Announcements - Review ballot announcements from the current and past ballot cycles
- HL7 Calendars - Dates and deadlines around balloting
- Participating at HL7 - An insider perspective on getting involved from one of our HL7 fellows
- Navigating the HL7 Processes - a webinar covering HL7's organizational structure, processes, co-chair responsibilities, and HL7 tooling
HL7 Organization
Learn about the people and groups that provide governance and oversight within the HL7 organization.
- HL7 Organizational Chart - A high-level view, including staff roles
- HL7 Board - The current Board of Directors
- HL7 Advisory Council - Experienced healthcare leaders who provide advice to the Board
- HL7 Affiliates - International Council and Affiliate members, plus links to meeting minutes
- Technical Steering Committee (TSC) - Oversees the execution of standards development by the Working Groups
- Product Family Management Groups - Responsible for ensuring product and service quality
- US Realm Steering Committee - Provides oversight to US Realm projects
HL7 FHIR®(Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) is a standard for exchanging healthcare information electronically.
- FHIR Overview - A high level view of the FHIR specification
- FHIR Specification - The official specification document
- FHIR Implementation Guide Registry - Searchable repository of existing FHIR IGs
- Guidance for FHIR IG Creation
- FHIR Implementation Guide Processes - Step-by-step process for creating a FHIR IG
- Introduction to Authoring FHIR Implementation Guides
- IG Publisher Documentation
- FHIR Management Group - The product management group that oversees FHIR development
- FHIR Specification Feedback - Submit a change request
- FHIR Connectathons - Information on FHIR testing events and how to participate
- FHIR Foundry - Discover, try, test, and install working reference implementations
- FHIR Implementer's Safety Checklist
- FHIR Security/Privacy Checklist
- Using the FHIR Validator
- HL7 Community Chat - Connect with others on HL7 standards, including FHIR on Zulip
HL7 Clinical Document Architecture (CDA®) is a document markup standard that specifies the structure and semantics of "clinical documents" for the purpose of exchange between healthcare providers and patients.
- CMG Dashboard - Links to the CDA artifacts, CDA IG creation and maintenance, and CDA community resources
- CDA Management Group (CMG) - The management group that oversees CDA product development
- C-CDA Implementation-a-Thon (IAT) - View upcoming IATs and links to past events
- HL7 Community Chat - Connect with others on HL7 standards, including
- CDA
The HL7 V2® messaging standard is the workhorse of electronic data exchange in the clinical domain.
- V2 Tools
- Version 2 Management Group (V2MG) - The management group that oversees V2 product development
- HL7 Community Chat - Connect with others on HL7 standards, including V2
Navigate HL7 Essentials with our AI-powered Assistant
HL7 FHIR®Accelerator Program
The HL7 FHIR Accelerator program is designed to assist communities and collaborative groups across the global health care spectrum in the creation and adoption of high quality FHIR Implementation Guides or other standard artifacts to move toward the realization of global health data interoperability.
Click here to find out more about the FHIR Accelerators.
HL7 Work Group Management for Co-Chairs
The following links provide information relevant to managing the activities of Work Groups.
- Co-Chair Handbook
- Co-Chair Trainings
- Leading Through Facilitation (2026)
- Respect In Action: Cultivating a Supportive Culture, Preventing Harrassment and Bullying (2026)
- Navigating HL7 Processes (2026)
- Reflecting On Your Co-Chair Role (2023 session recording)
- 👉 Benefits for Co-Chairs and Members of an HL7 Product and Service Management Group
- TSC Working Group Representatives - List of WGs and their TSC liaisons
- Work Group Decision Making Practices (DMP) and DMP Modification Template
- Work Group Health and PBS Metrics Reports
- Work Group Mission and Charter Tracking
- Mission and Charter Guidance
- New Work Group Request Form
- Complete List of Work Group Co-Chairs
- Co-Chair approval of HL7 Trusted Users for Jira Specification Feedback Projects
- WGM Meeting Room Request Form - Request rooms for upcoming WGMs
- Meeting Room Report - View your WGM room requests and joint meeting invitations
- WGM Information and Agendas - add your work group's upcoming WGM agenda to this page
- WGM Prep Checklist - Template for work groups to use for WGM preparation
- WGM PowerPoint Template - Template for WGM PowerPoint presentations
Ballot and Specification Management
The following links provide information relevant for the management of ballots and specifications.
Ballot Management
- HL7 Calendars - view important balloting deadlines by ballot cycle
- Notice of Intent to Ballot (NIB) Form
- Recirculation Request
- Ballot Desktop - Includes member balloting instructions and non-member participation guidelines
- Upload spreadsheet to JIRA
- Download recon spreadsheet from Jira and complete reconciliation on Ballot Desktop
Technical Steering Committee
The HL7 Technical Steering Committee’s (TSC) mission is to provide technical leadership to the HL7 organization to achieve the vision of creating a world in which everyone can securely access and use the right health data when and where they need it. The TSC oversees and coordinates the technical efforts contributed by the HL7 participants to ensure that the efforts of the Working Group are focused on the overall HL7 mission to provide standards that empower global health data interoperability.
This is a selection of current TSC guidance; for the full list, visit https://confluence.hl7.org/spaces/TSC/pages/130482504/TSC+Policies
Tools
The following links provide information about HL7 Tooling.
Jira
Jira Basics - General Information
Searching Jira Issues - JQL and Seaching
Working With Jira Issues - Creating, editing, commenting
- Project Insight
- HL7's Project Insight Database - Search HL7 Projects by keyword, sponsor, status, etc.
- Github
- Sparx Enterprise Architect
- EHRS-Functional Model Tools
- Locally Registered V2 Media Types
- How To/Tip Sheets
- IG Publisher Documentation
HL7 Terminology
The HL7 Terminology encompasses the Code Systems and Value Sets which are cited in HL7 Published artifacts.
- Published Terminology - The official page for access to HL7 Terminology
- HL7 Vocabulary Maintenance - Specific details on how HL7 vocabularies are maintained
- External Terminologies - Links to all the external terminologies of interest to HL7
- Terminology Expectations for IG Developers
- Terminology Services Management Group - The management group for HL7 terminology
- Healthcare Terminology Authority - Manages HL7's use of external terminologies
- Terminology@HL7.org - Email the terminology experts
- HL7 Community Chat - Connect with others on HL7 standards, including Terminology