Profile Proliferation3 Source

Challenges arise when systems support different profiles and/or different versions of the same profile, making seamless FHIR integration more complex.

Source & Source

Limiting Profile Divergence

Reducing our FHIR profiling footprint for the sake of interoperability

Reduce

Reduce the addition of unique elements, value sets, search parameters and messaging paradigms.

The proliferation of uniquely defined FHIR elements, especially "Must Support" ones, without clear justification for their intendend use case introduces barriers to interoperability.

Reuse

Reuse content of mature and widely supported FHIR specs.

Mature and internationally supported specifications such as International Patient Summary, International Patient Access and SMART APP Launch are a great starting point for many specifications. Reference their definitions of FHIR elements, value sets, and messaging structures.

Recycle

Recycle established specs.

V2, CDA, and other specifications are tried and tested methods for interoperating data for a wide variety of use cases. Focus efforts on solving novel use cases with FHIR.