FHIRs

FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) is a standards framework for exchanging healthcare information electronically. Developed by HL7 International, it combines modern web technologies with a modular resource-based approach to enable interoperability across health IT systems. In common usage, FHIRs can refer to the individual resources that compose the standard or to the specification family overall.

The core concept in FHIR is the resource, a discrete unit of exchange that represents a clinical concept such as Patient, Observation, Medication, or Condition. Each resource has a defined structure with fields, constraints, and sometimes extensions. Resources can be linked together and gathered into bundles for transmission, and they can be constrained further by profiles to meet specific implementation needs.

FHIR favors RESTful interactions and web-friendly formats. Clients interact with resource endpoints using HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE, exchanging data in JSON or XML. Resources are identified by URLs and versioned to support history and provenance.

Profiles, implementation guides, and terminology bindings provide constraints for specific use cases. Governance rests with HL7 and supportive national programs. FHIR releases have progressed from DSTU to STU3 and R4, with ongoing work on R5 and beyond.

Adoption highlights interoperability across electronic health records, laboratories, imaging systems, and patient apps. Challenges include aligning diverse data models, developing consistent profiles, and implementing robust security and privacy using OAuth2 and SMART on FHIR.