Today, only 24% of healthcare companies utilize FHIR application program interfaces (APIs), according to the Engine Group commissioned by Change Healthcare. FHIR, or Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources, defines how healthcare information can be exchanged between different computer systems regardless of how it is stored. It allows healthcare information, including clinical and administrative data, to be available securely to those who need access to it and who have the right to do so for the benefit of a patient receiving care.
Developed by Health Level 7, or HL7, FHIR has quickly become the standard for representing and exchanging health information. However, FHIR APIs are not easy for businesses to adapt, as today it is mostly driven by the need for compliance with interoperability rules.
