How does FHIR's focus on standard web methods differ from older HL7 standards?
It shifts the ecosystem from batch updates toward real-time data retrieval.
A significant philosophical shift occurred with the introduction of FHIR regarding how data access is managed. Older standards, like those based on HL7 v2 messaging, were primarily focused on relaying discrete events or transferring documents through messaging paradigms, often resulting in batch updates or discrete transfers. FHIR, by contrast, leverages standard web methods (GET, POST, PUT) inherent to RESTful architecture. This design choice facilitates the querying and accessing of specific, structured data elements directly, enabling real-time data retrieval. This capability is essential for supporting modern mobile applications and patient-facing tools that require immediate access to the most current information.
