In Costa Rica, FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) is in the early stages of adoption for healthcare data exchange. The country is utilizing the FHIR standard to improve the sharing of health information across systems. Currently, there's a focus on developing a base/core FHIR implementation guide, showing a commitment to adopting this international standard. Expectations are set for a significant increase in the adoption rate of FHIR in the coming years.

Rules and Support

  • Health Data Exchange Regulations
    • Regulations mandate the use of standards in electronic health data exchange, specifically mentioning FHIR.
    • There are no deadlines for compliance mentioned, nor are there fines for non-compliance.
  • FHIR Requirements
    • FHIR is mandated by the regulation for health data exchange.
  • Funding
    • Government funds are available to stimulate FHIR adoption.
  • Useful Links

National Setup

  • Standards Organization
    • The Ministry of Health is responsible for health data standards in Costa Rica.
    • Ministry of Health
  • Implementation Guides
  • Terminology Services
    • A national FHIR terminology server is in development.

Active Use Cases

  • Local Implementations
    • Currently, FHIR is used for the notification to the Ministry of Health of notifiable diseases, laboratory results, and immunizations.
  • International Standards Use
    • Costa Rica is utilizing the International Patient Summary standard.
  • Key Projects
    • Health Data Interoperability across the national health system is a major upcoming project.

Who's Using FHIR

  • Active Organizations
    • The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social and various technology companies are involved.
  • Main Reasons for Adoption
    • Improving health outcomes and care workflows are the primary motivations.
  • How They're Using FHIR
    • FHIR is being used to standardize and streamline the exchange of healthcare information.

Success Stories and Challenges

  • Benefits
    • Improved healthcare outcomes and care workflows have been noted as clear benefits.
  • Real Examples
    • The notification system for notifiable diseases, laboratory results, and immunizations is a successful use case.
  • Main Difficulties
    • High investment costs, unclear benefits, and a lack of FHIR knowledge are significant challenges.
  • Future Plans
    • The implementation of the International Patient Summary (IPS) between major healthcare providers is anticipated.

Future Plans

  • Progress So Far
    • There has been significant progress in the last year, meeting or exceeding expectations.
  • Next Steps
    • Continued development of the national FHIR data model and standards for specific use cases.
  • Expected Changes
    • Greater adoption across the healthcare ecosystem, leading to cost savings, enhanced care coordination, and a more robust digital health infrastructure.

Contributors

  • Permitted to be named:
    • Manuel Rodríguez Arce
    • Paul Fervoy
    • Alejandro Benavides

The above summary is based on the answers to the State of FHIR Survey 2025, organized by Firely and HL7 International.