Enabling Faster, Standardized and Secure EHR Integrations with SMART on FHIR
SMART (Substitutable Medical Applications, Reusable Technologies) is an open, standards-based framework that enables the development of medical applications that seamlessly integrate with electronic health records (EHR) and other healthcare systems. FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), on the other hand, is a modern standard for exchanging healthcare data electronically. When combined, SMART on FHIR empowers developers to create applications or platforms that work across different EHR systems, providing healthcare professionals with valuable tools to streamline workflows, enhance patient care, and improve outcomes.
Key Advantages of SMART on FHIR vs. Traditional HL7 Integrations
Many healthcare applications still rely on traditional HL7 integration rather than SMART on FHIR. While both lead to integration, SMART on FHIR offers some key advantages.
Integration Approach:
SMART on FHIR leverages the FHIR standard, which is designed to facilitate the exchange of healthcare data in a standardized format. SMART on FHIR applications are web-based and use OAuth2 for authorization, allowing for secure and context-aware interactions with EHR data.
In contrast, traditional HL7 integrations involve using HL7 messages (such as HL7 v2 or HL7 v3) to transmit data between different healthcare systems. These integrations require detailed mapping of data fields and message formats, often resulting in complex and custom integrations tailored to specific use cases.
Interoperability:
SMART on FHIR integrations are more standardized and simplified, enabling applications built on SMART on FHIR to work across multiple EHR platforms that support the FHIR standard. HL7 integrations are more complex due to variability in data mapping and formats. HL7 integrations often require custom interfaces and extensive testing to ensure data consistency and accuracy.
Security:
The framework employs modern security standards, specifically OAuth2 for authorization, ensuring that patient data remains protected and compliant with privacy regulations.
HL7 integrations require careful consideration of security measures to ensure data privacy and integrity.
Flexibility:
SMART on FHIR offers flexibility and access to patient data, making it ideal for bringing newer care delivery solutions like Remote Patient Monitoring into the clinical workflow. It allows developers to build apps that are more user-centric and context-aware. Traditional HL7 integrations may be less flexible in adapting to evolving healthcare needs and changing technologies.
Rimidi’s SMART on FHIR Platform and Remote Patient Monitoring
Rimidi’s SMART on FHIR platform works within EHRs and combines patient-generated data from connected devices, novel digital therapeutics, and Patient Reported Outcomes surveys with relevant, condition-specific clinical data from the EHR into problem-oriented modules that allow for better chronic disease management.
By embracing SMART on FHIR, Rimidi's platform transforms data exchange from a cumbersome process into a streamlined and interoperable ecosystem. This approach surpasses the limitations of HL7 integration, enabling faster, more secure incorporation of Remote Patient Monitoring data into the clinical workflow.
