{"id":21256,"date":"2022-08-03T09:25:13","date_gmt":"2022-08-03T13:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthit-gov.go-vip.net\/buzz-blog\/?p=21256"},"modified":"2026-01-17T21:36:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T21:36:13","slug":"apis-for-research-perspectives-from-providers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-data\/apis-for-research-perspectives-from-providers\/","title":{"rendered":"APIs for Research: Perspectives from Providers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Cures Act Final Rule<\/a> includes regulatory requirements to implement secure, standards-based application programming interfaces (APIs). To support the acceleration of API adoption in health care, ONC has published a series<\/a> of perspective reports that focus on key stakeholders and their views on APIs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accelerating APIs for Scientific Discovery: Provider Perspectives Brief\u00a0 [PDF – 740 KB] <\/em><\/a>is now available. This fourth and final report explored provider perspectives on API-based data sharing in a rapidly evolving electronic health data ecosystem. Provider organizations are often the primary stewards of a patient\u2019s medical history, and data captured in electronic health records (EHRs) influence a provider\u2019s workflow and clinical decisions. As a result, it is imperative that we understand providers\u2019 perspectives as we build towards an interoperable health care system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It is imperative that we understand providers\u2019 perspectives as we build towards an interoperable health care system.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The proliferation of health apps<\/a> has enhanced the ability of patients, providers, and researchers to access EHR data to improve patient care and overall health and wellness. Health IT developers are adopting APIs and other technologies that enable secure data exchange between disparate systems and health apps. Standards-based APIs provide patients the ability to access their electronic health information<\/a> (EHI) and share it with apps of their choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this report, ONC sought to understand providers\u2019 perspectives on how APIs can support the access, exchange, and use of EHI by conducting interviews with a diverse group of provider organizations in the fall of 2021. Discussion participants included a regional health system; a community hospital; an inpatient rehab, home health, and hospice system; a federally-qualified health center; and five academic medical centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These discussions focused on providers\u2019 experiences working with different health IT developers, implementing standards-based APIs for different use cases, resource requirements, timelines, and how this all aligns with their organization\u2019s strategic objectives. We gained a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities each organization faces in implementing APIs and apps. Understanding how these provider organizations view and use health IT solutions and products will help other health IT stakeholders (e.g., health IT developers, app developers, government) advance the interoperability of EHRs and health IT products in a coordinated effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Provider Perspective<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Generally, providers indicated enthusiasm and support for using apps to extend EHR functionality using standardized HL7\u00ae<\/sup> FHIR\u00ae<\/sup> APIs and FHIR Bulk Data APIs<\/a>. They reported that they would benefit from additional guidance regarding the Cures Act Final Rule provisions. In parallel to this project, ONC has published multiple resources and policy guidance on information blocking<\/a>, API privacy and security<\/a>, and additional educational resources<\/a> to facilitate the use of APIs and apps. Providers also expressed that to date many organizations have limited technical resources or experience implementing APIs and apps, and that they rely on their health IT developers to provide implementation assistance for new functionalities. However, they look forward to the promise APIs hold for promoting interoperability, access to EHI, and health data exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What We Learned<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In describing their motivations and experiences managing APIs and apps, providers indicated that APIs can support access, exchange, and use of EHI by extending the functionality of their EHRs. For instance, APIs can enable providers to use structured data elements in the EHR for clinical decision support, such as for calculating cardiovascular disease risk. Other findings included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n