HL7 Questions And Answers

Please feel free to send us any questions you have about HL7 and HL7 Interfaces at support@transworldscribe.com and if possible we will answer them here in this Blog/FAQ!

 

🔍 What Is an HL7 Listener?

In healthcare, many systems send messages to share patient information.  These messages follow a standard format called Health Level Seven (HL7).  HL7 messages are used to send lab results, appointments, patient updates, and more. To make use of these messages, your clinic first needs a way to receive them.  That’s where an HL7 Listener comes in.

 

Let’s look at what an HL7 Listener does—and why it’s often the first step in HL7 integration.

 

An HL7 Listener is a software tool that:

  • Waits for HL7 messages sent over a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network

  • Receives and reads each message using a rule called the Minimal Lower Layer Protocol (MLLP), which ensures each message is framed and transmitted correctly

  • Saves the message to a folder or database for later use

  • The listener watches a network port and accepts messages as they arrive

 

You can think of it like a digital mailbox.  It sits quietly, listens for HL7 messages, and makes sure they are received safely and stored correctly.

 

🛠️ What Does a Listener Actually Do?

Here’s what happens when you use a listener:

  • You set up the listener to watch a specific network port

  • Another system (like a lab or hospital) sends HL7 messages to that port

  • The listener receives each message and saves it locally—often in a folder or database

  • As part of the MLLP protocol, the listener returns an acknowledgement (ACK) to the sender to confirm receipt of the message

  • You can view the message or process it later using other tools

 

This process is automatic.  No manual typing.  No lost messages.  The listener doesn’t send messages anywhere—it simply receives and stores them.

 

✅ A Listener Built for Small Clinics

 

At TransWorld Scribes, we created the CORE HL7 TCP/IP Listener to be:

  • Easy to install on any Windows computer or server

  • Reliable, even when many messages arrive quickly

  • Clear, with readable message traffic logging and helpful notes

  • Flexible, so you can choose how messages are saved and handled

 

🧪 A Simple Example

Let’s say your clinic receives lab results from a laboratory.  The lab sends you HL7 messages using TCP/IP.

 

Here’s what you do:

  • Install the CORE HL7 Listener

  • Set it to listen on the correct network port

  • Install the CORE HL7 Listener Windows Service (1 mouse click)

  • Watch as messages arrive and are saved automatically to a folder

  • Use a database tool (like the CORE HL7 SQL Engine) to read or store the data

 

This setup takes just a few minutes—and, once completed, it works quietly in the background even when the computer reboots.

 

🧭 Final Thoughts

HL7 messages help healthcare systems share important patient information.  An HL7 Listener is the first tool your clinic needs to receive these messages safely and clearly.

 

Ready to simplify your clinic’s data flow?   Visit the CORE HL7 Listener product page or explore our video tutorials to see it in action.