The Standards and Interoperability Lab – Thailand is an exemplar of the AeHIN Community of Interoperability Labs (COIL) and contributes to building FHIR capacity in the region through peer-to-peer learning and community-building.
To promote a vision of a strengthened interoperable digital health ecosystem for better health in Asia, in particular, through health information standards capabilities, AeHIN supported its members with a Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) training course program led by the Standards and Interoperability Lab Thailand (SIL-TH). The blended course enabled participants to learn the basics of FHIR, including FHIR resources, FHIR server, FHIR profiling, and other related topics. It helped build foundational knowledge to continue in more advanced FHIR courses.
Participants
Forty-two (42) participants successfully completed the training within the specified timeframe and received certification. Table 3 shows that the completers were from a pool of 144 accepted applicants.
Note: All applicants were accepted to participate in the program since the eLearning platform could accommodate the number of applicants
Summary of Number of Applicants, Selected Candidates, and Completers in SIL-TH FHIR Training
| Duration of Completion | No. of Applicants | Selected Candidates* | Completers |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1 - September 30, 2023 | 144 | 144* | 42 |
To get the certificate of completion, the participants accomplished the following on or before September 30, 2023 on the SIL-TH e-learning platform:
- Completed watching all the video materials
- Passed the quizzes
- Joined at least one of the online sessions:
- Q&A sessions on July 6, 2023 at 8 PM Manila time and July 13, 2023 at 9 PM Manila time
- Experience sharing webinar on July 20, 2023 at 9 PM Manila time
- Project presentation on Implementation Guide (IG) development on July 27, 2023 at 9 PM Manila time
- Submitted a FHIR implementation guide (capstone project)
Twelve (12) countries were represented among SIL-TH FHIR training course completers; most of the completers were from Sri Lanka, followed by the Philippines, then Indonesia and Taiwan.
In terms of sectoral representation, most of the training course completers (54.8 %) were part of the government
Output
The SIL-TH FHIR training resulted in:
Output 1: Knowledge on the Adoption of FHIR Standard
The 42 course completers gained knowledge on the adoption of FHIR standard, specifically on the following topics:
- FHIR Basic Components (Overview, Terminology Binding, FHIR Specifications,Important Data Type)
- Creating FHIR Resource (Creating Resource Instance in JSON – Mapping and Building)
- FHIR Server and Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) Interactions
- FHIR Search
- HTTP Interaction (Transaction Bundle, Document Bundle, FHIR Operations)
- FHIR Conformance Part 1 (FHIR Profiling, Conformance Resources, Terminology Resources)
- FHIR Conformance 2 (Resource Validation, Implementation Guide, Publishing with Simplifier/IG publisher, Profiling with FSH)
Output 2: Co-development of FHIR Implementation Guides
The 42 course completers developed and presented their group and/or individual capstone project, a FHIR Implementation Guide (IG), enabling knowledge exchange and collaboration with participants from other countries. This aimed to contribute towards peer learning and community building around standards and interoperability in Asia.
The participants who completed the course and at the same time, consented to publish their names along with their testimonials are:
I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to participate in FHIR® Training by SILTH. It has proven to be a valuable starting point for my exploration of FHIR® standards. The on-demand learning format, along with the comprehensive videos, quizzes, and practical assessments with feedback, has been instrumental in building my understanding of the subject matter. While there were moments when the course material felt densely packed, I genuinely believe that the positive aspects far outweigh these minor challenges. Overall, this course has been an enriching experience, and I am truly thankful for the knowledge and skills I have gained from it. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to dive into FHIR® standards.
I enjoyed learning through this course. Dr. Rath is a wonderful tutor. The steps, explanation, and instructions in each module were clear and concise.
I had the privilege to participate in SILTH’s AeHIN FHIR Training course, and I must say it was an incredible experience. The course gave me significant insights into the field of healthcare interoperability and the strength of Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standards. The instructors at SILTH were not only knowledgeable but also extremely enthusiastic about the subject. They made difficult concepts understandable and practical. Through practical exercises and real-world examples, I obtained a thorough knowledge of how FHIR may revolutionize healthcare data exchange and improve patient care. In conclusion, the AeHIN FHIR Training course by SILTH exceeded my expectations. It not only enhanced my knowledge of FHIR but also empowered me to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of healthcare interoperability. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to excel in this field.
The course was an invaluable experience. It provided a comprehensive understanding of the subject. The course content was well-structured, and the instructors were highly knowledgeable. I gained practical insights into FHIR implementation, making it useful for my day to day work.
I’m immensely grateful for the AeHIN and SILTH in offering this program and highly recommend it to anyone seeking expertise in healthcare interoperability
The FHIR course is undoubtedly the most exceptional one I’ve ever taken.
Excellent instructor and materials.