Interfaces & APIs for healthcare: The key to digital interoperability

Digital transformation in healthcare is no longer a distant future scenario, but an urgent need. In view of increasing numbers of patients, complex treatment paths and the demand for more efficient and patient-centric care, hospitals, medical practices and cost-beneficiaries are facing enormous challenges. The safe and seamless data exchange between the countless IT systems – from hospital information systems (KIS) to radiology information systems (RIS) to electronic patient files (ePA) – is the critical bottleneck. Here interfaces and APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) come into play: They are the invisible architects that lay the foundation for a networked and interoperable health care.

This comprehensive blog post highlights the crucial role of APIs and interfaces in modern healthcare, their advantages, concrete applications and the specific standards that apply in Germany and internationally.

1. What are interfaces and APIs in the context of healthcare?

In essence, interfaces and APIs are mechanisms that enable two different software systems to communicate with each other and exchange data.

The traditional interface: HL7 and DICOM

Historically, data exchange in healthcare was based on complex, often proprietary interface protocols. The best known standard is Health Level Seven (HL7), especially version 2.x [1]. HL7 V2.x defines message formats for the exchange of clinical and administrative data, for example when recording a patient or transmitting laboratory results.

The DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) standard is crucial for the exchange of medical images, such as X-rays or CT scans. These traditional interfaces are established, but often rigid, difficult to implement and not designed for modern web and mobile applications.

1.2. The modern API: FHIR as Game Changer

The FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) specification, developed by HL7 International, represents a revolutionary development [2]. FHIR uses modern web technologies such as RESTful APIs and data formats such as JSON and XML.

| Feature | Traditional interfaces (e.g. HL7 V2.x) | Modern APIs (FHIR) | | :--- | :-- | :-- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Technology | Proprietary Protocols, News-based | RESTful Web Services, HTTP | | Data format Segment-based, difficult to read | JSON, XML (lightweight) | ** Interoperability | High Complex, Point-to-point solutions | Simple, standardized, modular | | ** Scope** Internal system communication (KIS, LIS) | Web, mobile apps, cloud services | ** Development | Long-term, high implementation costs | Fast, agile, developer-friendly |

Long-tail keyword focus: *FHIR RESTful