FHIR^®

FHIR is an acronym for Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources, which is an open-source framework that facilitates interoperability through the standardization of healthcare data objects and exchange protocols. 

The framework is designed to enable rapid implementations of standardized, yet extensible, software components into configurations of information systems that address both common and unique use-cases. FHIR, which originated as a draft standard in 2014, continues to mature through collaborations of broadly represented international stakeholders led by the US-based, non-profit standards developing organization Health Level 7 International (HL7®).

While FHIR inherits important principles from some of HL7’s other commonly used standards, including HL7 version 2 (v2) and Clinical Document Architecture (CDA), it improves upon these standards by leveraging application programming interfaces (APIs) and web-based standards, such as OAuth 2.0, to facilitate secure, automated, real-time, and granular data sharing between information systems. In addition, the FHIR framework facilitates implementations through the availability of open-source libraries, software development and testing tools, as well as human and machine-readable specifications maintained in free online FHIR specifications and implementation guides.

To learn more about FHIR and its impact on the development and reporting of dQMs (Digital Quality Measures), download our reference guide.