Epic FHIR Integration: Using FHIR Epic APIs

Updated February 15, 2024  |  4 min read

Key Takeaways

• Epic EMR integration or EHR integration with FHIR endpoints refers to the seamless integration between Epic's electronic health record (EHR) system and external systems using Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) endpoints.
• FHIR is a standardized protocol that enables the exchange of healthcare data across different healthcare systems.
• With Epic FHIR integration, Epic's EHR can communicate with other systems, such as electronic medical record (EMR) systems, and exchange patient information efficiently.
• FHIR endpoints provide a standardized way for these systems to interact, allowing for the secure exchange of patient data, including clinical records, encounter diagnoses, laboratory results, and medication information.
• This integration enhances interoperability.

Leverage FHIR Endpoints for Secure Patient Data

When talking about software and technology applications, the term integration often comes up in retail, wholesale, and health-related businesses.

Integrations drive automation and customer self-service applications but can present special challenges for health practices because of demanding HIPAA regulations for privacy, security, and utility.

Fortunately, these problems can be resolved with an Epic EHR-EMR integration with FHIR endpoints.

FHIR works better across siloed medical systems because it communicates more effectively in today's digital environment.

Built on JSON for structured content, RESTful APIs, and other common codes and formatting standards, the FHIR standard is both future-proof and easy to connect to existing systems to provide meaningful use in patient portals.

What Is Epic/FHIR Endpoint Integration?

Medical practices face the twin challenges of providing greater patient access while ensuring HIPAA-level security.

FHIR is an API format with predefined endpoints. The API layer is outside the HIPAA-compliant website's firewalls, so all incoming and outgoing data can be verified for validity and security before being accepted into the system.

The robust nature of Epic's EHR and EMR technology when combined with FHIR endpoints makes it easy for developers to integrate medical apps, health monitoring devices, patient portals, medical mobile apps, and third-party resources into their systems.

The technical details of an FHIR Epic integration can be challenging for any medical practice because healthcare staff members usually work on medical issues instead of development and security technology.

That's why it's important to hire an experienced software development company to implement an EMR-EHR system and handle the secure EMR integration.

FHIR and HL7 Details

FHIR provides a robust API environment for secure access to HL7 patient data.

HL7 creates the actual specifications, and FHIR and SMART EHR are guidelines used to implement the technology.

The internal systems of hospitals, clinics, and other health practices need to install, configure, and update their internal operating systems to incorporate these standards.

That's why medical companies need an experienced and trusted developer for a seamless integration process of an Epic instance and FHIR with their health system.

What About SMART on FHIR?

SMART on FHIR is a healthcare technology standard that integrates the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) protocol with SMART (Substitutable Medical Applications, Reusable Technologies) to enable interoperability and data exchange in healthcare applications. It facilitates the development of modular and interoperable health apps that can run seamlessly across different healthcare systems.

The SMART on FHIR framework ensures that applications can access and interact with electronic health records (EHRs) while maintaining security and privacy standards. This standard leverages modern web technologies, such as OAuth 2.0, to enable secure authorization and authentication, allowing healthcare providers and patients to benefit from a diverse ecosystem of applications that enhance patient care, research, and overall healthcare delivery.

SMART on FHIR promotes innovation and collaboration within the healthcare industry by providing a standardized approach to building and deploying healthcare applications.

Benefits of EHR-EMR Integration with FHIR Endpoints

EHR integration services of HIPAA-approved technologies foster greater communication between patients and staff, streamline office operations, and enable more self-service functions for patients.

Practices can meet their targets for the Medicare and Medicaid patient meaningful use mandate to qualify for government reimbursement. The more that patients use and consult their electronic health records and other medical history files, the better their treatment will be.

Some of the benefits of using FHIR endpoints and integration with Epic for staff and patients include [1]:

Ease of Communications

Staff can post critical information to patients in a secure forum.

The Diagnostic Report Application

Patients can link to verified outside information associated with lab procedures.

The Observation Resource

The observation resource enables analyses of vital signs, encounter diagnosis, smoking history, bad health habits, and lab results to identify common health problems. Patients can consult expert resources for further information.

Health Provider Care Plan Details

Each patient can receive specific assessments and treatments for associated medical, surgical, dental, and diagnostic procedures.

Appointment Management

All appointments are listed on secure patient portals that patients can consult anytime.

Overcoming Common System Limitations

The FHIR standard overcomes many limitations by making it easier to incorporate proprietary health apps and health information into EHR/EMR systems and allowing greater interoperability for software companies and FHIR app developers to create better features and apps for patients [2].

Bill Management

Patients can pay their bills and view their medical invoices 24/7. That increases on-time payments and reduces no-pays.

FHIR endpoints enable patients, doctors, pharmacies, and insurance companies to exchange data without the rigid workflows of other methods. There's no need for SOAP overhead when the system can use a straightforward RESTful approach. FHIR enables medical practices to focus on the 80 percent of common uses instead of the rarefied 20 percent of exceptions [3].

NEST Technology

NEST technology is the government's initiative to create universal interoperability among medical databases.

Spearheaded by the FDA, the goal of the initiative is to foster increased safety for medical-related devices and better input from devices, monitoring services, health providers, registries, patients, payers, insurers, and manufacturers to create a collaborative workspace where every stakeholder can work together on each patient's health [4]. FHIR technology is one of the most promising standards for building a universal interoperable platform.

FHIR for HL7 Integration

Professional development is an important step for your practice, hospital, or clinic if you want the best results from your EMR integration solutions.

Clarity Ventures is an experienced development company that specializes in medical development, patient portals, mobile apps, and HIPAA-compliant platform development. We create apps with FHIR APIs that will protect patient healthcare data.

We work with your staff to train them, test every aspect of development, and reduce costs while delivering state-of-the-art security and HIPAA compliance. When it comes to a FHIR app and Epic integration, we'll make it work with all of your business systems.