The NIH has published an HL7 FHIR implementation guide to enhance the exchange of maternal and infant health data. The guide aims to streamline the capture and analysis of EHR data from various platforms for public health research. It addresses the need for consistent methods to analyze data and understand the factors contributing to high maternal morbidity and mortality rates. Customized tools were developed to facilitate data flow and access to clinical EHR data for researchers, with the potential to advance maternal and child health research.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has published an implementation guide for Health Level Seven International (HL7) Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) to facilitate the exchange of maternal and infant health data. This guide, known as the Maternal & Infant Health Information for Research Implementation Guide, aims to streamline the capture, aggregation, and analysis of electronic health record (EHR) data from various platforms for public health research.
The release of this guide is a significant milestone in establishing a framework to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying factors contributing to the rising rates of maternal morbidity and mortality across the United States over the past two decades. Furthermore, it addresses the need for consistent methods to analyze data, investigating how maternal medical history and social determinants of health (SDOH) influence outcomes for both mothers and infants.
Developed as part of the ongoing Longitudinal Maternal and Child Health Information for Research Project led by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), this HL7 FHIR guide is crucial for linking a mother to her medical records and her infant’s records, irrespective of the healthcare system they are associated with.
Dr. Nahida Chakhtoura, Chief of NICHD’s pregnancy and perinatology branch, emphasized the importance of this guide, stating, “Establishing a standard method for accessing longitudinal clinical data from EHRs and codifying it into a guide addresses an important challenge for researchers.”
To aid in the guide’s implementation, the project partnered with organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), the NIH National Library of Medicine, and the Lantana Consulting Group. Recognizing the need for innovative solutions, the team developed customized tools compliant with the implementation guide to facilitate data flow and expedite access to clinical EHR data for researchers.
One such tool, the MaternalHealthLink pilot application, was adapted from an open-source FHIR application initially designed for the CDC. To test the guide and early versions of MaternalHealthLink, stakeholders participated in two HL7 FHIR Connectathon events.
By offering a blueprint for leveraging EHR data, this guide holds great potential for advancing maternal and child health research. “Harmonizing and making these connections can help advance maternal and child health,” Dr. Chakhtoura concluded.
