Interoperability is one of the most significant hurdles for HealthTech providers seeking to integrate their solutions within the NHS. The Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR®) standard offers a powerful solution to this issue, enabling seamless data exchange. By leveraging FHIR, HealthTech providers can achieve smoother integration, improve patient outcomes, and streamline processes across the UK’s complex healthcare landscape.
Understanding FHIR and its importance
Developed by HL7® International, FHIR is a modern standard for exchanging healthcare information electronically. It builds on the strengths of earlier HL7 standards (v2 and v3) while incorporating contemporary web technologies such as RESTful APIs, XML, and JSON. Unlike its predecessors, one often inconsistently implemented (v2) and the other criticised for complexity (v3), FHIR strikes an effective balance between simplicity and functionality, making it an ideal choice for addressing interoperability challenges...
