why_fhir

What is FHIR?

FHIR is an emerging standard for exchanging healthcare data. It combines the best features of earlier standards, such as HL7 and CDA, while taking advantage of the latest web service technologies.

The standard for modern healthcare data exchange

The volume and frequency of data exchange is expanding due to technology adoption outside of the electronic health record (EHR) and regulatory requirements. FHIR is the modern data standard that will help you activate data and take advantage of new opportunities.

Required by 21st Century Cures Act

Rules set by CMS and ONC require medical data exchange via FHIR APIs. Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, CHIP, and other health plans on federal exchanges must meet CMS requirements to share member data with other payers and offer provider directories to members via FHIR APIs.

Developer friendly

FHIR is based on internet standards used in other industries, lowering the barrier to entry for developers to create solutions that support patient care while not over-burdening their health system clients. FHIR originators created the standard with developers in mind, focusing on fast and low-effort implementation.

How Rhapsody health solutions facilitate FHIR integration

Transform any standard to FHIR and FHIR to any standard with Corepoint Integration Engine or Rhapsody Integration Engine. FHIR can be received and transformed into standards such as HL7 V2, other versions of FHIR such as R4 to STU3 or bundled as a composition document. Conversely, all the same is possible to receive data in other ways, such as via CSV files, HL7 V2, SQL, proprietary APIs, and more and then transform it to the required version of FHIR to send outbound.

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FHIR training

Kindle your understanding of FHIR with training from our experts. Courses explore FHIR timeline and versions, FHIR resources, encoding FHIR data, FHIR extensions, introduction to RESTful web services, and how to search for FHIR data. From self-paced tutorials to instructor-led, hands-on experience, Rhapsody FHIR courses put you on the fast track to implementing this evolving standard.

Fan the flames of your FHIR knowledge

Break through data silos

Benefits of FHIR

FHIR is the future of health data sharing. FHIR allows disparate data silos, such as EHRs, payer systems, and patient-facing apps, talk to each other.

Empowered patients

Equipped with smartphones and apps, patients expect to be able to access their health data as easily as they access Spotify playlists or bank accounts. They also expect to share it easily with care teams, health plans, or other apps at their discretion. FHIR is helping to make this a reality because it’s built on internet standards widely used in other industries.

Real-time access to data across the continuum of care

The healthcare ecosystem is vast, and consumers constantly move within it— from provider to provider and payer to payer. FHIR APIs support data integration and exchange across the ecosystem.

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Streamline interaction with data-trading partners

Connect disparate data systems to more easily share data among providers, payers, health IT vendors—and with patients.

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Improve quality data sharing for coordination of care

Seamless data exchange via FHIR among providers, payers, and patients has a direct impact on patient care, which is critical in emergency care settings and for patients’ overall health and well-being.

Blog

FHIR vs. HL7: We explain the key differences

What is FHIR? And how does it differ from earlier HL7 standards? We have all the answers.

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Connect with one of our interoperability specialists to learn how Rhapsody health solutions can help you deliver better healthcare.