The unique needs of the health care industry requires systems, processes, and standards, such as the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), to be implemented by physician offices, medical clinics, hospitals, laboratories, and other facilities related to patient care. FHIR enables the management of health care functions from evaluation of services to care plans to financial services and transactions.
History of Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources
After testing and discussion, FIHR was adopted in March of 2017 to improve the electronic exchange of health care information. In order to meet the needs of health care organizations in the collecting, securely storing, analyzing, and retrieval of patient and health information for electronic exchange, the FHIR was developed. A non-profit organization, Health Level Seven International (HL7), created the standard, and it was accredited by the American Standards Institute (ANSI).
ANSI is an accreditation organization that recommends and certifies various types of programs, frameworks, and standards. The accreditation process ensures that health care professionals are using systems and methods that are consistent with regulations, expectations, and best practices throughout the industry.
How Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources Works
FHIR is a web-based standard that can be used on mobile device applications, through Cloud communications, in institution-based systems, and other sharing systems. As an online resource, FHIR allows for use across these various system as well. FHIR is web-based and uses XML, HTTP, OAuth, Atom, and JSON that enable the use of interoperability across systems, as well as HTML. The framework and architecture also offers the ability to integrate other medical applications into the system. FHIR also supports a number of different types of workflow processes, along with seamless updating and bridging of legacy health care systems into the information network.
What Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources Can Do
One of the benefits that health care organizations gain from implementation of FHIR is the transfer of data in real time, or as it is occurring. For example, as information is being entered in for a patient during an emergency room visit, a physician’s office would be able to see the diagnosis, procedures, medications, and other medical-related data as it was being entered. Issues such as drug interaction or allergies are managed much more easily and efficiently.
In addition to sharing patient information, FHIR is also able to update information across systems for other health-related services. Insurance companies can verify deductibles, coverage amounts, and other information, enabling medical facilities to confirm the information and improve customer service. Pharmacies and physicians are also able to more quickly share information.
Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources and Health Care Informatics
A major concern in the area of health care informatics is the ability to transfer sensitive and confidential medical and financial information securely. The standard utilizes a secure protocol to protect information and meet the requirements of health care organizations and government requirements and legislation.
The health care field involves diverse processes and organizations in order to function in the care of patients, from infrastructure to administration to clinical procedures and delivery. Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) is an emerging standard that enables the secure exchange of information electronically that is easy to use and promotes a high level quality of care.
See also: Top 10 Health Informatics Online Associate’s Degrees 2016
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