Why FHIR and APIs are crucial to the healthcare industry

APIs have become a fundamental component of the healthcare industry, facilitating efficient and secure exchange of information across various entities such as patients, providers, insurers, and pharmaceutical companies. The adoption of electronic healthcare records (EHR) has accelerated significantly since the early 2000s, bolstered by legislative actions like the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act and the 21st Century Cures Act, which mandated the use of a common language (HL7 FHIR) and APIs in new systems. FHIR-based APIs have become crucial for ensuring interoperability, allowing data to be stored in any format while standardizing its exchange. This has enabled a wide range of applications, from creating comprehensive patient views to integrating IoT devices and social media data for enhanced patient monitoring. The rise of healthtech, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, underscores the importance of APIs in delivering virtual and at-home care solutions, while also driving business growth by removing the need for bespoke integration solutions. As healthtech continues to evolve, REST-based APIs are central to modernizing the sector, ensuring patients remain the focus while enabling businesses to adapt and thrive.