Health Data Standards
Health Data Standards are formalized specifications, protocols, and terminologies used to structure, exchange, and interpret healthcare information consistently across systems and organizations. They ensure interoperability, data quality, and semantic clarity in electronic health records (EHRs), medical devices, and health information exchanges. Key examples include HL7, FHIR, SNOMED CT, and DICOM, which standardize clinical data, messaging, imaging, and coding.
Developers should learn Health Data Standards when building or integrating healthcare applications, such as EHR systems, telehealth platforms, or health analytics tools, to ensure compliance with regulations like HIPAA and enable seamless data sharing. They are essential for interoperability in health IT ecosystems, reducing errors and improving patient care coordination. Use cases include implementing FHIR APIs for patient data access, mapping clinical codes with SNOMED CT, or handling medical imaging with DICOM.