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CPIA Certification Program
Module 3: Standards & Interoperability
Translating Clinical Communication into the Digital Age.
From Fax Machines to FHIR: The Pharmacist as a Communications Hub
Every day in your pharmacy, you are the central node in a complex communication network. You receive prescriptions via fax, phone, and e-prescribing. You send clarification requests to providers, receive refill authorizations, and transmit claims to payers. You are an expert at managing information flow across different, often incompatible, systems. You are, in essence, a human interface engine.
This module translates that real-world expertise into the digital realm. We will demystify the technical standards that govern how health information is exchanged between computer systems. You will learn that a faxed prescription and an HL7 message are solving the exact same problem: how to transmit a structured order from one point to another. You will discover that the back-and-forth phone call to clarify a dose is the analog version of a digital acknowledgment workflow.
We will explore the evolution of these standards, from the legacy workhorse of HL7 v2 to the modern, web-friendly approach of FHIR. By understanding the “grammar” of these data standards, you will gain the ability to troubleshoot data flow issues, design safer and more efficient clinical workflows, and ensure that your hospital can seamlessly and safely connect to the broader healthcare ecosystem. This is the language of modern health data exchange.
Your Guide to the Interoperability Landscape
This module will equip you with a fundamental understanding of how different data exchange standards are structured and how they enable the secure flow of clinical information.
3.1 HL7 v2, FHIR and CDA Essentials
A crucial introduction to the foundational standards of health data exchange. We’ll compare the structure of the ubiquitous HL7 v2, the document-based CDA, and the modern, API-driven FHIR standard.
3.2 Messaging Workflows and Acknowledgments
A deep dive into the “digital conversation.” We’ll cover how systems confirm receipt of orders (ACKs) and the critical importance of these acknowledgments for ensuring patient safety and reliable data transfer.
3.3 Interface Engines and Data Routing
An exploration of the “traffic cops” of the hospital data network. We’ll learn how interface engines receive messages from one system, transform them, and route them to their correct destinations.
3.4 External Data Sources (PDMP, Immunization, HIE)
A look at how hospitals connect to the outside world. We’ll examine the technical standards and workflows for querying Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, state immunization registries, and Health Information Exchanges.
3.5 Practical FHIR Lab – Building a Medication Request Resource
A hands-on conclusion where we will construct a valid FHIR “MedicationRequest” resource from scratch, translating a standard prescription into a fully interoperable, API-ready data object.
