Spaarne Hospital Delivers Pathology Data to Dutch Cancer Registry via FHIR

Details

Spaarne Hospital is the first pathology department in the Netherlands to deliver pathology data to the Dutch Cancer Registry (NKR) via the HL7 FHIR standard. Through this connection, IKNL can now receive incidence reports from pathology using an international standard for healthcare data exchange. The data is securely transmitted through Mercurius, Palga's new system. This development marks a major milestone in the standardization and future-proofing of oncology data exchange. FHIR uses standardized building blocks for health data, allowing IKNL to receive pathology data—such as dates and diagnosis information—in a uniform manner from all providers using FHIR. This means that data only needs to be defined and managed once within the NKR, rather than separately for each provider. The system is designed not just for transmission but also as a foundation for future linkages. Planned connections include DICA and population screenings (such as colorectal and cervical cancer), enhancing the coherence and reusability of oncology data across the care chain. Furthermore, adopting FHIR ensures compliance with modern security standards and privacy requirements (AVG), maintaining a safe structure by keeping data close to its source. This initiative strengthens the collaboration between IKNL and Palga, establishing a robust technical foundation for future data exchange in Dutch oncology care.