FHIR
FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) is a healthcare data standard developed by Health Level Seven International (HL7) to enable the secure and efficient electronic exchange of health information. Designed with flexibility and Scalability in mind, FHIR supports the integration of data across systems using modern web technologies.
How it works
FHIR is built on a resource-based approach, where each resource represents a discrete clinical concept — such as a patient, allergy, observation, or medication. These resources use widely adopted data formats like JSON and XML and are accessible via RESTful APIs. This allows developers to build applications that can query, retrieve, and update healthcare data in a standardized, modular way.
Key features
- Uses RESTful APIs for simplified integration
- Supports JSON and XML formats for data representation
- Built around reusable and extensible resources
- Designed for Scalability and ease of implementation
- Enables modular adoption for gradual system upgrades
Benefits
FHIR helps healthcare organizations improve Interoperability by facilitating seamless Data Exchange between providers, payers, and patients. It reduces integration complexity, supports patient-centered apps, and allows for incremental adoption — from basic demographic sharing to advanced Clinical Data exchange.
Use cases
- Supporting public health reporting and Data Aggregation
- Sharing patient demographics across systems
- Integrating lab results into electronic health records
- Enabling Patient Access to Health Data via apps
- Streamlining workflows between providers and insurers