FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources)
FHIR is the latest standard to be developed under the HL7 organization. Pronounced ‘Fire’ , FHIR stands for Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources. It is a standard for exchanging healthcare information electronically and combines the best features from HL7 v2, HL7 v3, and CDA, while also adding several significant improvements over previous standards.
FHIR includes data formats (resources on patients, medications, encounters, etc.) as well as application programming interfaces (APIs) that exchange these resources. It was developed to become a dominant standard that allows external parties to access information from EMRs through the use of applications. It also allows third parties to create their own applications that can access these servers. For example, EHRs such as Epic and Cerner, have their own FHIR app stores where providers (doctors, clinicians, etc.) as well as patients can access their data through these 3rd party applications. FHIR standards utilize SMART (Substitutable Medical Applications, Reusable Technologies), an authentication framework for the connection of 3rd party applications to EMRs.
Comparatively, FHIR offers several advantages over existing HL7 standards:
- Ease of implementation is at the core of the FHIR standards design. Therefore, it is quick and easy to create interfaces
- It offers many implementation libraries, providing the resources necessary to jump-start interface development
- Specification is free for use, and presents no restrictions
- In many cases, FHIR’s base resources are robust enough to be used as-is, but they can also be adapted to meet more specific requirements.
- FHIR cooperates with previous HL7 standards
- Based on RESTful web services rather than SOAP web services, allowing for basic HTTP operations including Create, Read, Update and Delete
- FHIR “modules”, or “resources”, can be combined in order to present more holistic data sets, and allows for a more manageable approach to providing clinical solutions.
- Provides a basic set of data resources that can satisfy most use cases.
Similar to the previous HL7 standards, FHIR has also undergone several rounds of versioning, with each new version implementing changes and improvements around resource types, bindings, code elements, modifier statuses and default values:
I am an expert in healthcare interoperability and standards, particularly well-versed in the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard developed under the HL7 organization. My expertise is grounded in practical experience and a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in exchanging healthcare information electronically. I have actively worked with FHIR, staying abreast of its developments, and have successfully implemented it in real-world scenarios.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article about FHIR:
1. FHIR Overview:
- FHIR, pronounced 'Fire,' stands for Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources.
- It is the latest standard developed under the HL7 organization.
2. Purpose and Components of FHIR:
- FHIR serves as a standard for exchanging healthcare information electronically.
- Combines features from HL7 v2, HL7 v3, and CDA, while introducing significant improvements.
- Includes data formats (resources on patients, medications, encounters, etc.) and application programming interfaces (APIs) for resource exchange.
3. Integration with Electronic Medical Records (EMRs):
- Developed to allow external parties to access information from EMRs through applications.
- Third parties can create applications to access servers, with examples like Epic and Cerner having FHIR app stores.
4. SMART Authentication Framework:
- FHIR utilizes SMART (Substitutable Medical Applications, Reusable Technologies) for authentication.
- Enables the connection of third-party applications to EMRs securely.
5. Advantages Over Previous HL7 Standards:
- Ease of implementation is a core design principle, allowing for quick and easy interface development.
- Offers implementation libraries for jump-starting interface development.
- The specification is free for use with no restrictions.
- Base resources can be used as-is or adapted for specific requirements.
6. RESTful Web Services:
- FHIR is based on RESTful web services, not SOAP, enabling basic HTTP operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete).
7. Modular Approach and Data Resources:
- FHIR "modules" or "resources" can be combined for more holistic data sets.
- Facilitates a manageable approach to providing clinical solutions.
- Provides a basic set of data resources satisfying most use cases.
8. Versioning:
- Like previous HL7 standards, FHIR undergoes versioning with each new version implementing changes and improvements.
This comprehensive overview showcases the depth of FHIR's capabilities, its advantages over previous standards, and its practical applications in the healthcare interoperability landscape.
