Besides the FHIR specification, what integrated component is necessary for a working health API ecosystem?
Implementation of OAuth 2.0 for authorization.
While HL7 International standardized the blueprint through FHIR, creating a complete, functional, and secure health API ecosystem requires integrating several complementary technical and procedural layers beyond just the resource model. A critical component is the Security Layer, which necessitates implementing robust authorization mechanisms, specifically OAuth 2.0. This framework manages user authentication and defines precise scopes and permissions for accessing data. Coupled with ensuring transport layer security (TLS) for data in transit, robust authorization is non-negotiable for meeting regulatory guardrails, such as those enforced by HIPAA, and ensuring the controlled gateway function of the API is maintained.
