What is FHIR, and why should hospitals care?
FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) is a standard for exchanging healthcare data over simple web APIs. Instead of every system inventing its own format, FHIR defines shared “resources” — Patient, Encounter, Observation, Appointment — that any compliant system can read and write.
Why it matters
Hospitals rarely run a single system. Laboratories, pharmacies, insurers and mobile apps all need patient data. Without a standard, each connection becomes a bespoke integration project. With FHIR, you build the interface once.
Where HL7 v2 fits
Many devices and laboratory systems still speak HL7 v2 — pipe-delimited messages such as ADT (admissions), ORM (orders) and ORU (results). A practical hospital platform supports both: HL7 v2 for the equipment you already own, FHIR for modern apps and APIs.
Where to start
- List the systems that must exchange data (lab, imaging, pharmacy, insurer).
- Agree which resources each needs.
- Decide authentication and audit requirements up front.
Planning a connected hospital? Our team can help you map the interfaces before you buy anything.
