FHIR Data Model Explained: 5 Concepts That Everything Rests On

FHIR Data Model Explained: 5 Concepts That Everything Rests On

The FHIR data model is often described as "resources + REST." Five concepts underneath that description are what production systems actually rest on. Concept 1: Resource identity. Every resource has a stable identifier ({ResourceType}/{id}), a version identifier (meta.versionId), and a meta.lastUpdated timestamp. These three enable versioning, incremental sync, and consistent references. Concept 2: References vs. […]

Terminology Server Value: What It Actually Delivers

Terminology Server Value: What It Actually Delivers

Terminology servers seem like infrastructure most teams could skip. In practice they deliver measurable value that shapes data quality significantly. Value 1: $validate-code on write. Every coded field validated at write time. Prevents bad codes from landing in the FHIR store. Sites without this see 5-15% terminology drift within 12 months. Value 2: $expand for […]

EHR FHIR API: The 2026 Feature Baseline That Buyers Should Expect

EHR FHIR API: The 2026 Feature Baseline That Buyers Should Expect

EHR FHIR APIs have consolidated around a common feature baseline in 2026. Buyers evaluating EHRs should expect these features; missing any is a red flag. Baseline (must-have in 2026) 1. **US Core-conformant reads.** Patient, Encounter, Observation, Condition, MedicationRequest, Practitioner, and secondary US Core resources. 2. **SMART on FHIR patient launch.** Third-party app integration standard. 3. […]

FHIR Format Handling: NDJSON, JSON, XML — When Each Applies

FHIR Format Handling: NDJSON, JSON, XML — When Each Applies

FHIR resources are serialized in multiple formats. Understanding when each applies avoids format confusion. JSON (default) Standard REST responses; individual resource GET/POST/PUT. Content-Type: application/fhir+json. Best for point-of-care, single-resource operations. NDJSON Bulk data streaming. Content-Type: application/fhir+ndjson. Each line is one resource. Best for Bulk Data `$export`, warehouse ingestion. XML Legacy option, application/fhir+xml. Best for HL7v2-to-FHIR converters […]

EMR Development in 2026: What Changes vs. What Stays

EMR Development in 2026: What Changes vs. What Stays

EMR development has changed materially since FHIR became mandatory but many fundamentals stay constant. Understanding both dimensions shapes 2026 development planning. What changed (FHIR-driven) 1. Integration surface = FHIR REST. Custom APIs are legacy; FHIR REST is the ecosystem. 2. Auth = SMART. SMART on FHIR is universal. 3. Analytics = bulk data. Bulk Data […]

FHIR Implementation Steps: A 90-Day Getting Started Roadmap

FHIR Implementation Steps: A 90-Day Getting Started Roadmap

FHIR implementation for teams starting from zero involves specific 90-day milestones. Following the sequence below prevents scope explosion and ships something usable by day 90. Days 1-15: Foundation 1. Deploy dev FHIR server (HAPI, Aidbox, or Medplum) locally. 2. Load sample US Core-conformant Patient, Observation, Encounter resources. 3. Set up terminology server access (Ontoserver dev, […]

FHIR Schema: Practical Notes on the Resource Structure

FHIR Schema: Practical Notes on the Resource Structure

The FHIR schema — the underlying structure of resources — is well-documented but has practical patterns worth internalizing. Understanding schema mechanics prevents integration surprises. Resource anatomy Every resource has: 1. resourceType — the resource name. 2. id — server-assigned identifier. 3. meta — versionId, lastUpdated, profile references, tags, security labels. 4. extension[] — custom fields. […]