FHIR for HIIM Professionals: Interoperability, APIs, EHR Impact, and HIM Data Governance

Healthcare data exchange is rapidly moving beyond traditional documents, portals, and manual record requests toward structured, API-enabled access to health information. This session provides health information and health informatics management professionals with a practical, non-technical introduction to Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), including how FHIR supports standards-based exchange and how APIs provide pathways for accessing and sharing electronic health information. Participants will explore the basic FHIR concepts and terminology that HIM professionals need to understand as interoperability becomes increasingly integrated into everyday healthcare operations. 

The program examines why FHIR is not simply an information technology issue, but an important HIM data governance issue. Participants will explore how FHIR and API-enabled exchange affect release of information, privacy and security, coding, clinical documentation integrity, quality reporting, analytics, EHR optimization, and data stewardship. The session also examines the roles of HL7, ONC, CMS, EHR vendors, and healthcare organizations in establishing standards, regulatory expectations, technical implementation, and organizational governance for interoperable health information. 

Through practical examples and an interactive HIM decision-making scenario, participants will consider how sensitive information, incomplete or preliminary data, third-party application access, auditability, the legal health record, the designated record set, and organizational release policies should be addressed in an API-enabled environment. The session emphasizes the expanding role of HIM professionals in ensuring that electronically exchanged information remains accurate, appropriately governed, compliant, secure, and meaningful. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of FHIR-enabled interoperability and the importance of HIM leadership in the governance of electronic health information. 

AHIMA CE Domains

• Domain 1 – Data Structure, Content, and Information Governance(Primary Domain)
• Domain 2 – Information Protection: Access, Disclosure, Archival, Privacy, and Security
• Domain 3 – Informatics, Analytics, and Data Use
• Domain 5 – Health Law and Compliance

AHIMA Continuing Education Hours

1.5 AHIMA CE Hours

Featured Speaker
Amanda Truelove, RHIA, CSTR, CAISS