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    • Jan 11, 2023

Advancements in HealthTech: How APIs and HL7 FHIR Enhance Connectivity.


Currently, many organizations have developed a wide range of medical technologies, including data systems such as Health Information Systems (HIS), Health Information Exchanges (HIE), and various medical devices and applications.


Data from these technologies need to be used together to enhance the efficiency of hospital operations. However, before reaching that point, hospitals face a fundamental problem: these technologies cannot connect with each other.


This is because each technology is developed by different organizations. So, how can hospitals solve this problem? Today, MEDcury will explain it to you. Stay tuned!


How Can We Connect Different Medical Technologies?


When each system or application is developed by different organizations, we can enable these technologies to connect and communicate with each other through an Application Programming Interface (API).


This means that regardless of whether the software is created by different organizations, written in different programming languages or operating systems, or even located in different parts of the world, we can still make it work together.


For example:

Company A has developed Software A but needs certain features from Software B by Company B, which specializes in different products, to enhance its own software. Therefore, Company A creates an API to request services that allow Software A and Software B to connect and communicate with each other.


Can APIs Connect All Technologies?

In reality, it’s not that simple, especially when different parties develop their own software. The issue arises because the data structures of each technology can differ.


To integrate them, users need to customize their programs to extract data from each API. Imagine if there are 100 different data formats; that means you would have to customize the program 100 times. And this doesn’t even account for changes in the APIs themselves.


If this were the case, it would certainly be complicated and time-consuming. Therefore, it is essential to use data structure standards to ensure that data from all parties has a similar structure when transmitted through APIs. This helps to reduce the workload involved in this process.


What is the HL7 FHIR Standard?

HL7 FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) is one of the standards for exchanging electronic health information. It is widely used and covers various aspects of healthcare data, such as patient histories, diagnostic results, lab results, appointments, and medication orders. HL7 FHIR also extends to financial and administrative aspects of hospital management.


Using APIs and the HL7 FHIR standard to connect different technologies is akin to assembling LEGO pieces. While you might be able to connect pieces from different sets, they won’t fit together seamlessly. However, by using both APIs and the HL7 FHIR standard, different medical technologies can communicate with each other seamlessly and efficiently.


Next time, MEDcury will introduce you to the HL7 FHIR standard in more detail and provide guidance on how to apply HL7 FHIR in hospitals. So, don’t forget to follow us to stay updated with our latest content! or learn more about HealthTech Solutions, connect with us at:



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