How does FHIR offer a more granular approach compared to HL7 v2 messaging?
It allows access to specific elements ("resource") via query, rather than processing an entire monolithic message
The architectural philosophy behind FHIR represents a significant departure from the record-centric approach inherent in HL7 v2. HL7 v2 typically delivered data in large, sometimes monolithic messages encapsulating various pieces of information related to a single transaction (like an entire set of lab results or an admission record). FHIR, conversely, treats data elements as discrete, addressable 'resources.' This means that developers or systems can use query-based access, often through an API call, to retrieve only the precise piece of information needed—for example, just a specific allergy record or a single medication detail—without having to ingest and parse an entire bulk message structure, leading to much more efficient and targeted data interaction.
