Sep 25, 2023 11:53:13 AM

Exploring the Future of EHR Integrations with Medplum and Topology Health

At Topology Health, we believe in the power of collaboration and knowledge sharing. Together with our friends at Medplum, we recently hosted an event titled 'Build your own EHR Integrations using Open Source,' and we're thrilled to express our sincere gratitude for your enthusiastic participation.

In today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, the role of Electronic Health Records (EHR) integration cannot be overstated. It's a topic that holds immense significance, and we were delighted to see a community of passionate individuals come together to explore this subject.

Here's a brief recap of the key highlights from the event:

1. Connecting to EPIC via FHIR: We delved into the intricacies of connecting with EPIC and extracting patient demographic data through Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR). This technology is transforming how healthcare data is accessed and utilized.

2. Writing EHR "Notes" with FHIR: We explored the innovative possibilities that FHIR brings to the table, allowing healthcare professionals to efficiently create and manage electronic health records.

3. Acquiring and Testing EHR Credentials: Navigating the process of obtaining and testing credentials for EHR systems can be challenging. We provided insights to help simplify this critical step.

4. HL7 and SFTP Connectors: These connectors are the backbone of EHR integrations. We walked through their importance and role in seamless data exchange.

The heart of our discussion revolved around the significance of Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) in the healthcare sector. FHIR, which you can learn more about here, is at the forefront of transforming healthcare data sharing and integration. We also explored the transition from HL7 version 2 to FHIR, offering valuable resources for healthcare app developers.

During the event, we conducted live demonstrations that showcased the practical application of these concepts. We illustrated how to retrieve patient data from an Epic backend and seamlessly integrate it with the MedPlum platform. Additionally, we demonstrated the integration of the Foo Medical App with Epic using the SMARTerFHIR Library, highlighting the power and flexibility of open source tools.

But our event didn't stop at the technical aspects. We engaged in meaningful discussions around the challenges of connecting with EMR systems, patient authentication, and the impact of the 21st Century Cures Act on healthcare data integration. We also explored the role of Health Information Exchanges in facilitating data sharing across providers and vendors.

As we delved deeper into the complexities of healthcare data interoperability, we addressed issues related to API access restrictions and the paramount importance of data privacy and security in this context.

Your participation, questions, and feedback were invaluable. It's abundantly clear that the healthcare technology community is brimming with individuals dedicated to making a positive impact on the industry, and we're excited to be a part of this journey with you.

For those who missed the event or wish to revisit the discussions, you can find the demos here:

Connect to Epic from Medplum Bot: https://youtu.be/E8VD9rgadG0
HL7 Handling from Medplum Bot: https://youtu.be/q0SXeb_8H2Q
Agent Demo: https://youtu.be/MmE3Dn939B4
Demo app connected to Epic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r35OyzcpIaY

We encourage you to continue your exploration of EHR integration and related topics. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have further questions or require additional resources; we're here to support your journey in any way we can.

Once again, thank you for being an integral part of our event. We eagerly anticipate the possibility of future interactions, collaborations, and our shared goal of advancing healthcare technology. Together, we can pave the way for a brighter, more interconnected future in healthcare.

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