HL7 FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) is a standard developed by Health Level Seven International for the electronic exchange of healthcare information. It models clinical and administrative data as modular Resources accessed through a RESTful API using JSON or XML representations, combining a defined data model with web-native interaction. It has become the dominant modern standard for healthcare interoperability, enabling exchange between electronic health records, apps and analytics systems.
Overview
- FHIR represents clinical and administrative concepts as Resources — for example Patient, Observation, Encounter and Medication — each with a defined data model.
- Resources are exchanged in JSON or XML and accessed through a RESTful API supporting create, read, update, delete and search.
- Profiles and extensions adapt the base Resources to local and national implementation requirements.
- Its web-native design lowers integration cost relative to earlier HL7 messaging standards.
Key aspects
- Modular, composable Resource model.
- RESTful, web-standard interaction patterns.
- Profiling for jurisdiction-specific constraints.
- Strong ecosystem of apps via SMART on FHIR.
Applications
- Interoperability between electronic health record systems.
- Patient-facing health apps and portals.
- Population-health and clinical analytics pipelines.
- Feeding curated clinical data to medical AI systems.