The results of this process have pointed out a number of inconsistencies with general assumed knowledge and actual truth related to many standards. The HL7 standard is just one example of a standard that is misunderstood in many aspects. Many believe that HL7 is a transport protocol, others believe that is a file format, others believe that it defines specific locations for data elements and still others believe that HL7 'set the language, structure and data types required for seamless integration from one system to another' (1). Each of these beliefs has nuggets of truth in them but do not explain the full story of HL7. Those that believe an HL7 message from one hospital can be fully read and understood in the exact same way as a second hospital may also be mistaken. Even though this is the hope of a standard, to have a standards-based tool that can be used over and over in different situations, real world experience tells us a different story about this so-called standard. Similarly, each topic has beliefs that are partially true, but by not understanding the whole truth, the standards can lead to complications.