Frequently Asked Questions About FHIR

FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) is a standard developed by HL7 (Health Level Seven International) for exchanging healthcare information electronically. It enables the interoperability of healthcare systems using modern web technologies. A key reason for HL7 FHIR becoming a standard is its ability to facilitate the delivery of electronic product information (ePI/ePIL) as digital leaflets (e-leaflets) on mobile apps.

FHIR combines the best features of HL7's previous standards, such as HL7 v2, v3, and CDA, with the simplicity and flexibility of RESTful APIs and web technologies like JSON and XML.

FHIR is developed and maintained by HL7 International, a global authority on standards for healthcare information technology.

A FHIR resource is a fundamental building block in FHIR. Each resource is a discrete piece of healthcare data, such as a patient, observation, or medication, and is defined with a standard structure and data elements.

FHIR supports data exchange in XML and JSON formats.

Yes! FHIR relies on industry-standard security protocols, including OAuth2 for authentication and authorization and HTTPS for encrypted communication.

FHIR is used for various purposes, including: • Exchanging electronic health records (EHRs) • Enabling mobile apps for healthcare by facilitating the delivery of electronic product information (ePI/ePIL) as digital leaflets (e-leaflets) • Supporting clinical decision support systems • Facilitating patient access to their data

While not mandatory everywhere, many governments and organizations are adopting FHIR as a standard for healthcare data exchange. For example, in the U.S., the ONC’s 21st Century Cures Act mandates FHIR for certain interoperability requirements. Countries such as the US, Canada, and the UK have used FHIR extensively as a healthcare data standard framework.

FHIR is widely adopted globally, with support from major healthcare organizations, technology vendors, and government initiatives.

Yes, FHIR can act as a bridge to legacy systems by enabling data exchange through APIs while allowing the systems to remain operational during the transition.