News

Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) is redefining how healthcare systems around the world share and manage data. At its core, FHIR is a standard for exchanging healthcare information electronically, offering a modern, secure, and efficient way to ensure the right information is accessible at the right time. This explainer breaks down what FHIR is, why it matters, and how it is transforming healthcare in Australia.

Why Do We Need FHIR?

Legacy healthcare data standards like HL7 have served the industry for decades, but they are no longer equipped to meet modern demands. Here are the key challenges:

• Security Risks: Traditional standards rely on plain-text messages, which can compromise patient confidentiality.
• Limited Flexibility: Legacy standards follow a rigid, single-paradigm approach to data exchange.
• Lack of Rich Data: Critical details like modern gender identity attributes or Australian provider information are not supported.
• Outdated Formats: Legacy formats are not compatible with modern data storage and usage needs.

FHIR is being developed to overcome these limitations, delivering a flexible and secure way to share healthcare data and improve patient outcomes.

What Makes FHIR Different?

FHIR offers a ground breaking approach to interoperability, with features designed to meet the needs of modern healthcare:

• API-Based Framework: Enables secure, flexible data exchange with multiple access paradigms while promoting the usage of common code sets nationwide.
• Open Standards: Developed through a collaborative and iterative process with input from global stakeholders.
• Modern Data Formats: Uses self-describing XML/JSON formats for seamless integration with modern systems.
• Patient-Centric Design: Includes patient consent within the data model, ensuring ethical and secure data sharing.

How Does FHIR Work?

Imagine a system where your healthcare data follows you wherever you go, accessible to authorised providers without being locked in a central repository. FHIR makes this possible by enabling systems to communicate directly, securely, and efficiently. It powers innovations like electronic health records (EHRs), ePrescriptions, and comprehensive patient summaries that improve care coordination and outcomes.

Benefits of Adopting FHIR in Australia

Adopting FHIR on a national scale offers significant advantages:

• Global Expertise: Learn from countries like the USA, UK, and Canada, which have already implemented FHIR.
• Local Adaptation: Develop standards that address Australia’s unique healthcare needs.
• Improved Security: Protect sensitive healthcare data with advanced encryption and secure APIs.
• Streamlined Communication: Reduce inefficiencies with standardised codes for diagnoses, requests, and workflows nationwide.

The Future of Healthcare Interoperability

FHIR represents the future of healthcare data exchange, and Kestral is at the forefront of this transformation. By collaborating with healthcare providers, government bodies, and industry stakeholders, we are fostering a more connected and secure healthcare system. The federal government’s significant investment in the accelerated development of the Australian FHIR standard underscores this vision. With the first release of minimal-use standards expected in 2025, we are excited to see the next chapter of innovation unfold.