Currently, interoperability and data exchange are essential for improving healthcare and making informed decisions. To achieve this, there are several health data standards, each with its own focus and unique characteristics. Today, we will explore three prominent standards: openEHR, HL7 FHIR, and the OMOP Model from OHDSI, analyzing their compatibility and importance in the healthcare sector today.

OpenEHR: A Flexible Platform Standard

OpenEHR is an Electronic Health Record standard that focuses on creating a health platform centered around clinical models. Unlike other standards, openEHR is based on a two-level architecture that separates clinical content from application logic. This allows for greater adaptability and data updates without altering system functionality. Clinical content is specified using archetypes, artifacts designed by clinicians containing all the knowledge of a given domain.

HL7 FHIR: Resource-Centric Interoperability

FHIR is another rising standard in the healthcare domain. Its focus is on resource-based interoperability, allowing easy identification and access to specific clinical information. FHIR uses a RESTful structure for data exchange, making it agile and efficient for integration with healthcare applications and systems.

FHIR has gained wide adoption in the healthcare industry due to its ease of implementation and developer-oriented approach. 

OMOP Model: The Power of Data for Research

The OMOP Model from OHDSI (Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership) is a framework designed to standardize health data from heterogeneous sources to facilitate research and observational data analysis. OMOP transforms clinical data into a common model of structured and normalized data, allowing researchers to analyze large datasets to identify patterns and trends in population health. Spain is one of the countries in Europe where the OMOP model is most widespread.

Next, we have provided an explanatory video where our colleague and semantic interoperability consultant, Diego Boscá, discusses the possible compatibility of these standards.

The importance of standards in the healthcare sector

The openEHR, FHIR, and OMOP standards play a critical role in improving healthcare and research in the healthcare sector today. Although they may have different approaches and applications, together they offer a complementary ecosystem that addresses different aspects of healthcare and data management.

• Enhancing Interoperability

Interoperability is one of the biggest challenges in the healthcare sector. OpenEHR and FHIR are key solutions for facilitating data exchange between healthcare systems and applications. By working together, openEHR and FHIR can provide better integration and access to patient information across different points in the healthcare system.

• Facilitating Research and Public Health

The OMOP Model has been widely used in medical research and public health. By standardizing and normalizing clinical data, OMOP allows researchers to conduct large-scale analyses and gain insights into disease patterns, effective treatments, and healthcare outcomes. Integrating data from healthcare systems using openEHR and FHIR with the OMOP Model would provide a rich source of information for research and evidence-based healthcare improvement.

• Driving Innovation in Digital Health

The convergence of these standards not only enhances interoperability and research but also drives innovation in the field of digital health. Health information systems can leverage the strengths of each standard to create more robust and comprehensive solutions. The combination of openEHR, FHIR, and OMOP allows for the development of more advanced, patient-oriented health applications, resulting in more personalized and effective healthcare.

In conclusion, openEHR, FHIR, and the OMOP Model are powerful standards in the current healthcare sector. Although each has its unique approach, working together they can address key challenges of interoperability, research, and innovation in digital health. Collaboration and convergence of these standards represent a significant opportunity to improve the quality of healthcare, facilitate medical research, and promote data-driven health in the digital era. By adopting a collaborative strategy, the healthcare community can harness the potential of these standards to transform how we approach health and wellness.