Healthcare organizations are increasingly turning to APIs to enhance interoperability between EHRs, internal apps, and other data exchange tools. APIs are interfaces that allow disconnected programs or systems to communicate with each other, acting as bridges that allow the flow of information. APIs are being looked at as ways to reduce development time, save storage space on devices and systems, and overcome any differences in the standards or formats in data at either end of the bridge.
ONC proposed three technical outcomes for healthcare APIs in its 2015 Edition of Certified EHR Technology.
This is only the tip of the iceberg and through an API-first approach, healthcare organizations can simplify interoperability by enabling seamless data flow backed by a robust infrastructure. However, creating a one-stop solution to access important data and applications is a necessary step in making healthcare data intensive.