Public Health FHIR Playbook Released for Interoperability

Details

The Public Health FHIR Playbook was developed by the Public Health FHIR Implementation Collaborative (PHFIC). Its primary goal is to assist state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) public health agencies in successfully implementing FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), which serves as a standard for electronic health data exchange. The document provides comprehensive guidance that goes beyond mere technical specifications. It describes not only the fundamentals of FHIR but also the necessary policy context and actionable steps required to achieve successful implementation within public health settings. This playbook is specifically tailored to address the diverse challenges faced by various levels of regional public health entities (STLT). Because implementing FHIR involves deep considerations regarding data governance, policy decision-making, and operational processes—not just technical integration—PHFIC provides practical guidelines from these multi-faceted perspectives. The release of this Playbook is expected to accelerate the improvement of interoperability for electronic health data in the public health sector, thereby building a foundation that enables broader and quicker healthcare responses, such as regional data sharing or epidemiological investigations.