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What is FHIR?

Also called: HL7 FHIR, FHIR Interoperability Standard, FHIR API

FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) is the HL7 standard for exchanging healthcare data through web APIs. It defines common building blocks, called resources, such as Patient, Practitioner and Observation, so different systems can share data.

By John Britton, VP of Marketing, MedicalProspects · Updated November 4, 2026 · Provider Identity & Data

Why it matters for healthcare sales and marketing

For health IT companies, FHIR support often decides whether a product can plug into a hospital's EHR without a long custom integration. U.S. regulations require certified health IT to support standardized FHIR APIs, which has made FHIR the default way new apps connect to clinical systems. Buyers in IT and informatics ask about it early.

How it works

  • Resources: standard data objects, such as Patient, Practitioner, Encounter and Observation.
  • APIs: resources are read and written over standard web (REST) APIs.
  • Apps: the SMART on FHIR framework lets apps launch inside EHRs with secure authorization.
  • U.S. rules: federal health IT certification includes standardized FHIR API requirements.
Flow from an EHR exposing FHIR resources through an API, to a SMART on FHIR app launched inside the clinician's workflow.
FHIR lets apps read and write standard healthcare data through APIs, often launched inside the EHR.

Example

Illustrative scenario. A clinical decision support start-up builds on SMART on FHIR so its app can launch inside several major EHRs. Its sales team targets CMIOs and clinical informatics leaders at hospitals running those EHRs, leading with "works inside your EHR" rather than a custom integration project.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming FHIR means instant integration. Hospitals still review security, workflow and data scope.
  • Pitching only to IT. Clinical informatics and end users shape adoption.
  • Confusing FHIR with a product. It is a standard; each EHR implements it in its own way.

Related terms

  • Electronic Health Record (EHR)An electronic health record (EHR) is the digital system a hospital or practice uses for patient charts, orders, documentation and billing. Products that integrate with the EHR are usually evaluated by IT, clinical informatics and the departments that use them.
  • Technographic DataTechnographic data describes the technology an organization uses, such as a hospital's EHR, imaging, revenue cycle and ERP systems. Healthcare sales teams use it to find accounts that run a competitor's product or a platform their own product works with.
  • Chief Medical Officer (CMO)A hospital chief medical officer (CMO) is the senior physician executive responsible for the medical staff, clinical quality and patient safety. In hospitals, CMO almost always means chief medical officer, not chief marketing officer.
  • Hospital C-SuiteThe hospital C-suite is the senior executive team of a hospital or health system, typically the CEO, CFO, COO, CIO, chief medical officer (CMO) and chief nursing officer (CNO), who approve major budgets and strategy.
  • Virtual Care LeaderA virtual care leader is the executive or director who runs a health system's telehealth and digital care programs, such as video visits, remote patient monitoring and virtual nursing, often with a title like VP of virtual care or director of telehealth.

Put it to work

Sources

  1. FHIR overview, HL7 International
  2. Health IT certification program, ASTP/ONC

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