FHIR

A global standard developed by HL7 International to enable the electronic exchange of healthcare information between systems. It defines how health data, such as patient records, medications, and lab results, can be structured, shared, and accessed securely across applications, regardless of vendor or platform.

FHIR uses modern web technologies—including RESTful APIs, JSON, and XML—to enable faster, simpler, and more flexible data exchange than older standards. It allows healthcare applications, EHR systems, and mobile apps to communicate in real time, improving interoperability and patient access to health information.

Adopted widely in the U.S. and internationally, FHIR underpins national interoperability initiatives such as TEFCA and patient data access rules enforced by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). Its modular design and open framework make it central to the evolution of connected, patient-centered healthcare systems.