Balancing SQL and NoSQL in Healthcare Software Development: A FHIR Perspective
SQL or NoSQL? A Real Story From Building Healthcare Software
Summary
This article discusses the challenge of database selection for healthcare software developers. It states that structured clinical data requires ACID properties using SQL (PostgreSQL), while high-frequency, semi-structured data from wearable devices is best handled by flexible NoSQL (MongoDB).
Details
Based on experience building a system handling patient records and vital signs, the author outlines database selection challenges. Clinical data requires strict rules like ACID transactions, referential integrity, and audit trails, making SQL essential for managing structured entities like FHIR resources. Conversely, unpredictable, high-volume data (e.g., heart rate, steps) from wearables is suited to NoSQL due to its schema flexibility. The optimal solution presented is a hybrid architecture: using SQL for core patient master data and FHIR resource storage, and NoSQL for real-time device data and logs. This approach ensures both the reliability needed for medical data integrity and the scalability/flexibility required for modern IoT integration.
Technology Note
FHIR（Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources）は医療データ交換の国際標準。このエントリの関連技術: FHIR
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