Health data standards allow for more clear and meaningful communications between healthcare providers and impactful access to research data via tools such as EHRs.

Terminology standards play a crucial role in EHRs, medical billing, clinical research, public health reporting, and healthcare interoperability initiatives. We reviewed several common terminology standards including SNOMED CT, ICD, RxNorm, LOINC, and others, with particular emphasis on those supported by the National Library of Medicine. By adhering to these standards, healthcare organizations can improve data quality, enhance patient care coordination, and support data-driven decision-making in health care.

Content exchange standards are an essential component of interoperability in healthcare systems. HL7’s work in developing V2, CDA, and FHIR have produced key elements that facilitate interoperability, including structural, semantic, and more recently transfer standards, and allowing flexibility by incremental implementation. Increasing adoption of these standards has the potential to improve patient care and research through clear, efficient, and secure exchange of health information.

Collaborative work such as producing implementation guides, creating health information exchanges, and developing national and international policies and programs continue to improve interoperability in health care systems. The National Library of Medicine is committed to supporting this work through terminologies and other work. See our Health Information Technology and Health Data Standards at NLM site to learn more and stay current by subscribing to our NLM Health IT News Feed.