What are EHR APIs and why do they matter for practices? 

A recent Tebra survey found that only 8% of independent practice owners have never had an issue with their electronic health records (EHR). It shows that most EHR systems fail to address the real challenges practices face today.

If you’ve already invested in an EHR, you’re probably familiar with some of these challenges:

The problem? Many EHR systems struggle with interoperability, making it difficult to exchange data between different applications. This often leads to inefficient data transfer, manual data entry, and data duplication across systems. The solution lies in leveraging robust application programming interfaces (APIs) that facilitate seamless communication and data exchange between your EHR and other healthcare tools.

In this article, we'll explain the concept of EHR application programming interfaces (APIs), why they're essential, and how they help independent practices.

An API is a set of defined rules and protocols that allows different applications to communicate with each other. In short, it's a structured way for various systems to share data and functionality as needed.

Think of it as a secure digital messenger for your healthcare systems. Just as a medical interpreter helps patients and healthcare providers communicate, APIs are the interpreters between several systems — making sure your data remains the same, even if the systems use different languages.

Here's how APIs work within EHRs:

For example, if you want to sync ePrescriptions with a patient's record on two different apps, you can use an API to transfer data easily.

There are several types of APIs, depending on the protocol they use or the purpose for which they were built. Here are some of the most popular ones:

Fast healthcare interoperability resources (FHIR) APIs represent the gold standard for integrations. These APIs give you a standardized way to exchange critical healthcare data.

It organizes healthcare data into standardized "resources," such as:

Due to this capability, these APIs are particularly powerful as they support granular data access (retrieving specific pieces of information) and bulk data transfer (moving large datasets efficiently).

Major EHR vendors like Tebra offer their own proprietary APIs that provide deep integration capabilities within their respective ecosystems. They usually go beyond typical data exchange and are built to meet other needs — for example, system configuration, workflow automation, and custom integrations.

Since these components are built into the EHR, they tend to have deeper integration capabilities. When you're evaluating an EHR vendor, make sure they have their own API to help you integrate with your tool of choice — saving your practice from multiple headaches later on.

Tebra has long-standing partnerships with dozens of third-party products that complement and extend the value of Tebra’s comprehensive platform — ensuring that providers can create the solution that best fits your practice. Learn more here.

Consolidated patient data APIs aggregate and consolidate patient data from multiple sources into a coherent view. These APIs create comprehensive patient profiles by pulling data from different sources like:

They also have matching algorithms to identify patient data and data cleansing systems to remove duplicates or inconsistencies. If you're an accountable care organization (ACO) or manage patients receiving care from multiple providers, the APIs come in handy to communicate with other practices or organizations.

The biggest issue with healthcare platforms is that each platform uses its own format, which makes it difficult to use with other systems. That's where data transformation APIs come in use.

They can transform everything from old HL7 v2 messages to proprietary formats into modern FHIR resources. These APIs validate data and ensure data quality and completeness during conversion. If you're participating in health information exchanges (HIEs), consider using these APIs, as they are compatible with legacy systems, too.

Cloud-based healthcare APIs refer to the newest generation of low-maintenance APIs and are easier to use. They provide Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant access to healthcare data and services through modern cloud infrastructure.

You can expect features like built-in disaster recovery and real-time data synchronization that older systems don't offer. They also reduce the technical expertise required to use and troubleshoot in the long run. 

Given that several types of EHR APIs are available, the question remains: how do they help independent practices?

Here's how EHR APIs can address key challenges and benefit independent practices.

APIs enhance EHR data exchange by automating data transfer between systems, eliminating the need for manual entry or outdated methods like faxing. This leads to more accurate and up-to-date patient information across different platforms.

For example, when a specialist orders a lab test, the results automatically populate in both the specialist's and primary care physician's EHR systems. Similarly, when a patient fills a prescription, their medication history updates across all connected healthcare providers instantly.

Often, healthcare staff spend too much time on administrative tasks. In fact, 75% of providers say that time spent within their EHR could be better spent on patient care. This shows the level of inefficiencies present in current EHR systems.

The right EHR solution also has APIs that help streamline workflows. For instance, when a patient schedules an appointment, APIs can automatically trigger a cascade of actions:

You can even customize it further to adapt to specific situations. Let’s say your patient’s insurance requires prior authorization for a particular procedure. The API can automatically initiate the authorization process and track its progress.

From the patient perspective, APIs let patients access clinical services using patient portals and apps that reduce duplicate and arduous data entry. It gives them more control over the process while ensuring providers have everything they need.

For administrative staff, APIs eliminate many of the frustrating aspects of healthcare information management. Instead of switching between multiple systems or re-entering the same information in different places, you can work within the EHR while the data syncs on its own in the backend.

EHR APIs can significantly reduce operational load and related costs. By automating tasks and reducing manual data entry, APIs free up staff time to focus on patient care. Additionally, APIs can help reduce EHR integration costs by eliminating the need for expensive custom interfaces or middleware solutions.

Also, cloud-based APIs eliminate the need for expensive on-premise servers and reduce IT infrastructure costs. Practices no longer need to maintain complex networking setups or worry about system backups and disaster recovery.

If you don't have APIs within your current EHR system, you could end up spending thousands of dollars on building them. The cost could rise depending on the:

Choosing an EHR with built-in APIs can significantly reduce EHR integration costs. By selecting an EHR vendor that offers robust API capabilities, practices can avoid hefty expenses and streamline their workflows.

Furthermore, standardized APIs often come with comprehensive documentation, developer support, and regular security updates, ensuring that practices maintain compliance with evolving healthcare regulations without dedicating internal resources to system development.

To transition to a value-based care model, you must have real-time access to patient data in standardized formats. Only then can you analyze healthcare outcomes across different patient populations.

With healthcare APIs, that's possible. APIs let you pull data from different systems and create a standard format. You can build reports on at-risk populations, intervention effectiveness, or evidence-based practices using that data. You can even share this data with other organizations, preventing too much back-and-forth on data validation.

Even though EHR APIs have many benefits, as with any technology, you can expect to run into issues while implementing them. Here are a few challenges to watch out for:

Critical data like personally identifiable information (PII) must be consistently updated in every system you use. The inconsistency problem stems from differences in how systems structure, format, and interpret healthcare data.

For instance, one system might record blood pressure as two separate fields (systolic and diastolic), while another stores it as a single field with a specific format. These discrepancies can lead to data mapping errors and potential patient safety issues.

In this case, verify if the API has built data validation along with quality checks at entry and exit points. Start with a pilot program and test the waters before a full implementation.

When using different systems, you could also encounter compatibility issues due to varying technical specifications. This is especially true if you use a legacy EHR system with outdated protocols.

In this case, use a staged migration approach and API middleware or integration platform to bridge these gaps. Vendors like Tebra have the expertise to walk you through each of these potential barriers to implementation.

Your EHR API needs to comply with regulations like HIPAA, HITECH, and state-specific privacy laws (e.g., CCPA). And this extends beyond data protection. You need to assess if it has measures in place for patient consent management, data access logging, and breach notification procedures.

Make sure you check if the API or EHR vendor has the necessary certifications to prove compliance. Also, establish training programs for your staff so that they know what to look out for while using APIs with different systems.

While some vendors don't offer APIs, others charge additional fees to use APIs. The cost burden could also extend to ongoing expenses like:

That’s why you should conduct a total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis before implementation.

Here’s a guide on how to choose the right EHR vendor (with an evaluation matrix).

Many practices also deal with limited access to technical expertise and resources. For example, they might lack IT staff with API implementation experience. A resource gap could lead to:

Ultimately, this could drive up your costs and operational dependencies. So, work with vendors who have an API associated with the product and who can provide training to get you up to speed.

No matter how much time and money you spend on implementing APIs, it's a waste if your staff can't use it. You'll notice these symptoms in ways such as:

This is where change management comes into play. Communicate expectations, potential challenges, and benefits to your staff and give them access to training sessions and reference guides to improve adoption.

Investing in an EHR system with robust API capabilities can help make a significant impact in overcoming interoperability challenges, improving data exchange, and streamlining workflows. As technology advances, APIs will play an even greater role in optimizing healthcare operations and facilitating the seamless flow of information between different systems. 

When selecting an EHR vendor, prioritize those that offer comprehensive API solutions to ensure your practice can leverage the full potential of health IT. Not sure how to evaluate vendors? Check out our guide to selecting the best EHR for your practice.