DHIN 2025Connectathon FHIR IG
0.1.0 - draft

DHIN 2025Connectathon FHIR IG, published by DHIN. This guide is not an authorized publication; it is the continuous build for version 0.1.0 built by the FHIR (HL7® FHIR® Standard) CI Build. This version is based on the current content of https://github.com/Nigeria-FHIR-Community/2025Connectathon/ and changes regularly. See the Directory of published versions

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Official URL: https://sandbox.dhin-hie.org/ig/ImplementationGuide/2025Connectathon Version: 0.1.0
Draft as of 2025-10-21 Computable Name: DHIN2025ConnectathonFHIRIG

Revision History

Name Date Reason for Changes Version
Digital Health Interoperability Network (DHIN) 25th September 2025 First Draft for Connectathon IG 0.1.0

DHIN 2025 Connectathon FHIR Implementation Guide

Purpose

The DHIN 2025 Connectathon Implementation Guide (IG) brings together multiple tracks under a single standards-based framework to demonstrate, test, and advance healthcare interoperability in Nigeria and across Africa.

This IG is rooted in the WHO SMART Guidelines approach (Standards-based, Machine-readable, Adaptable, Requirements-based, Testable). Each track leverages Digital Adaptation Kits (DAKs) and HL7 FHIR R4-based artifacts to ensure that systems can exchange health information seamlessly, securely, and in alignment with national and international best practices.

Background

Nigeria’s health information ecosystem is characterized by fragmented, siloed systems that limit continuity of care, decision-making, and efficiency. The Digital Health Interoperability Network (DHIN) convenes stakeholders—including regulators, providers, developers, insurers, and innovators—to design and test practical interoperability solutions through structured connectathons.

This IG documents the machine-readable artifacts, profiles, and value sets required to implement the 2025 DHIN Connectathon tracks:

  1. Health Insurance & Claims
  2. MNCH Referral
  3. ePharmacy (ePrescription & eDispensing)
  4. Immunization
  5. Medical Devices Communication

Each track builds on existing DAKs, regulatory frameworks, and stakeholder-driven priorities, providing reference implementations for future production systems.

Scope of the FHIR Implementation Guide

This IG addresses the following cross-cutting goals:

  • Standardize profiles, value sets, and extensions for each track.
  • Enable secure interoperable data exchange across health facilities, pharmacies, insurers, referral networks, immunization registries, and medical device platforms.
  • Support decision-support, regulatory compliance, and real-time data exchange through SMART-on-FHIR and open APIs.
  • Provide artifacts for testing and conformance validation during and beyond the Connectathon.

Track-Specific Overviews

1. Health Insurance & Claims

  • Purpose: To digitize and streamline claim submission, adjudication, and reimbursement across HMOs, NHIS, and health providers.
  • Key FHIR Artifacts: Claim, ClaimResponse, Coverage, ExplanationOfBenefit.
  • Value: Reduces fraud, accelerates payments, increases transparency, and supports regulatory oversight.
  • Bundles: bundle-hmo-hospital, bundle-hmo-insurer, bundle-patient-hospital, bundle-patient-insurer.

2. MNCH Referral

  • Purpose: To enable structured, traceable referrals for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health services.
  • Key FHIR Artifacts: ServiceRequest, Task, CarePlan, Communication.
  • Value: Improves care continuity, ensures timely follow-up, and reduces maternal and child mortality.
  • Bundles: bundle-referral-communication, bundle-referral-initiation, bundle-referral-response, bundle-referral-tracking.

3. ePharmacy (ePrescription & eDispensing)

  • Purpose: To standardize electronic prescribing and dispensing workflows.
  • Key FHIR Artifacts: MedicationRequest, MedicationDispense, Organization, PractitionerRole.
  • Value: Prevents medication errors, improves drug availability, ensures accountability, and integrates insurance claims.
  • Bundles: bundle-coverage-enquiry, bundle-prescription, and bundle-dispense-notification.

4. Immunization

  • Purpose: To digitize vaccine administration, reporting, and defaulter tracing in alignment with SMART Guidelines.
  • Key FHIR Artifacts: Immunization, Patient, Encounter, Observation, List.
  • Value: Strengthens vaccine traceability, supports AEFI (Adverse Events Following Immunization) monitoring, and improves coverage reporting.
  • Bundles: bundle-client-registration, bundle-report-aefi, bundle-register-facility, bundle-update-client.

5. Medical Devices Communication

  • Purpose: To enable integration of connected medical devices (vital signs monitors, infusion pumps, diagnostic devices) with health records.
  • Key FHIR Artifacts: Device, DeviceMetric, Observation, DeviceRequest.
  • Value: Facilitates remote monitoring, supports clinical decision-making, and aligns with ISO/IEEE 11073 device communication standards.
  • Bundles: bundle-device-audit, bundle-device-observation, bundle-device-provenance, bundle-device-registration, bundle-device-task-execution

Interactions Between Priority Systems

  • Clinical Systems (EMRs/EHRs): Exchange data with referral, immunization, and prescription services.
  • Pharmacy Systems: Receive, dispense, and reconcile ePrescriptions and link with insurance systems.
  • Insurance Systems: Verify coverage, adjudicate claims, and support financial protection mechanisms.
  • Medical Devices: Send observations to clinical records for real-time monitoring and analytics.
  • Regulatory Systems: Collect data for policy oversight, audits, and compliance monitoring.
  • Patients & Communities: Engage through mobile applications, feedback loops, and consent-enabled access.

All exchanges are defined through FHIR R4 profiles and conformance statements in this IG.

Acronyms

Acronym Meaning
AEFI Adverse Event Following Immunization
DAK Digital Adaptation Kit
DHIN Digital Health Interoperability Network
SMART Standards-based, Machine-readable, Adaptable, Requirements-based, Testable