An application programming interface, or API, is a set of programming code that translates among different systems, devices, and applications. In healthcare, APIs allow various tools to exchange information. Healthcare API integration is when this type of programming code is used within a facility's IT infrastructure to enable efficient and secure data exchange.
Healthcare organizations use APIs to facilitate the sharing of data, such as between electronic health record (EHR) systems and third-party technology. The push toward seamless data exchange has increased the usage of APIs year after year, with estimates of API usage in U.S. hospitals in 2024 standing at 94%.
Regulatory agencies encourage the use of APIs with a range of requirements and incentives, and the trends point toward more requirements in the future. In this guide, we'll cover the foundations of API usage in healthcare settings and provide examples to illustrate their role. We'll also discuss five best practices for integrating APIs into your data-exchange workflows.
What Is an API in Healthcare?
In our day-to-day lives, application programming interfaces (APIs) facilitate many activities, from shopping online to locating a restaurant. A lot of businesses use APIs to connect one piece of technology (such as Google Maps) to another (a business website, for example). APIs can help workflows occur without human input.
Healthcare, like other industries, uses APIs to connect different systems and facilitate automated workflows. APIs allow users or workflows to retrieve only the data they need. Instead of pulling bulky files, data exchange can be very targeted and lightweight. Essentially, APIs help data get where it needs to be, at the right time.
Healthcare API Examples
A common set of APIs in healthcare are those that help with prior authorization workflows. Done manually, prior authorization can be incredibly time consuming and resource intensive. Communication between clinical teams, billing services, and insurance companies to check whether a procedure will be covered requires several steps. Sometimes this isn't completed in time and a patient may undergo a procedure that ultimately gets declined. This pain point has become an opportunity for API usage.
The Da Vinci Project produces standardized APIs and implementation guides (IGs) that address this stressor. Da Vinci APIs can be used to automate prior authorization, which reduces administrative burden for facilities and can improve the patient's experience. There are different categories of APIs within this resource, created to address different sections of the workflow. As a set, these APIs help to tear down information silos among clinicians, billing departments, and payers.
What Are APIs Used For in Healthcare?
In healthcare settings, APIs can be used to:
- Improve communication between EHRs.
- Connect in-house patient data with patient-facing apps.
- Move patient-generated health data (such as information from wearable devices) into EHRs.
- Facilitate automated workflows (such as prior authorization and scheduling workflows).
- Allow agentic AI to take actions without human input.
- Connect technology used in different departments, such as imaging, pharmacy, or billing.
Risks of Poor Healthcare Data Exchange
When information is trapped in systems that can't communicate with one another, compounding problems can occur, such as:
- Medical errors.
- Operational inefficiencies.
- Redundant testing.
- Treatment delays.
- Unnecessary costs.
- Fragmented care.
Many healthcare workers are familiar with these scenarios, because the industry has struggled with information exchange challenges for decades. Thankfully, a standardized language called Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (or FHIR, pronounced "fire") has finally gained widespread adoption in the industry, in part through FHIR-based APIs.
5 Best Practices For Healthcare API Integration
APIs connect different parts of healthcare systems, acting as digital doorways that information can move through. When integrating this type of programming into your facility's workflows, it's important to factor in a range of considerations — from the patient's experience to security compliance. Here are five best practices that you can use to guide your decisions about the use of APIs within your organization.
1. Follow Established Interoperability Standards
FHIR is the current industry standard for healthcare APIs. Ensure that the APIs you integrate into your IT infrastructure are FHIR-based. When working with vendors and companies to install new apps, ask that only standard FHIR APIs are used. Standardization makes it easier to change or expand your IT systems without losing data or connectivity.
2. Implement Strong Security Measures for Healthcare API Integration
Healthcare organizations are responsible for taking measures to ensure that electronic protected health information (ePHI) is restricted while remaining accessible to those who need it. This involves the safe storage, transfer, and display of data. As part of this larger data ecosystem, healthcare APIs must meet robust data security requirements.
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) offers guidance related to key considerations for API security in healthcare, including:
- Data encryption best practices.
- Protection against unauthorized access.
- Development of organizational security policies.
3. Adopt Strict Policies for the Use of Third-Party APIs
Third-party and vendor APIs can introduce risk to an otherwise secure infrastructure. They act as gateways to broader internal software systems and networks. It's important to vet all healthcare API gateways to make sure they have strong encryption components and access controls. Once installed, adopt strict monitoring procedures. This helps prevent attacks intended for entire healthcare networks.
4. Enact an API Management Strategy
Facilities using healthcare data APIs must have a plan for management and maintenance. Management involves monitoring usage, overseeing periodic updates, and addressing problems. In some cases, a strategy might involve the use of an interface engine (or "middleware") to act as a central hub for multiple healthcare data APIs.
5. Prioritize Patient-Facing Healthcare APIs
The 21st Century Cures Act defines patients' rights to access their health data "without special effort." This makes it important for healthcare facilities to prioritize APIs that facilitate the flow of information to patients. Select patient-facing APIs that align with your branding and mission, and contribute to a positive experience for the patient.
Stay Informed of Changes in the Healthcare Industry
Strategic healthcare API integration is just one way that you can protect patients' sensitive data while also promoting engagement. We know how challenging it can be to navigate change. That's why we offer healthcare leadership guides and resources —- created to help you stay on top of the policies and innovations impacting your facility the most.