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Journeying Through Industry Waters: FAST's Impactful Presence at Recent Events

As the dust settles from the whirlwind of activity over the past several weeks in the healthcare industry, marked by prominent events such as ViVE and HIMSS24, it'sevident that innovation and collaboration are at the forefront of progress. Amidst this bustling landscape, the FHIR at Scale Taskforce (FAST) has not only made its presence felt but has also unveiled new initiatives, including the launch of the FAST Focus webinar series and the initiation of public meetings for its scalable Consent project. This blog is a brief highlight of all the most recent excitement and includes helpful links for your reference. 

Introducing FAST Focus: A Quarterly Glimpse into FHIR Infrastructure 

Launching the inaugural FAST Focus webinar marked a significant milestone, offering a quarterly rendezvous for the FHIR and interoperability communities. This platform serves as a vital conduit for keeping stakeholders abreast of FAST's endeavors in bolstering FHIR infrastructure. Past sessions' recordings and decks are readily available on the FAST calendar page in the archive section, providing a wealth of insights for eager participants. 

HIMSS24: Spotlight on FAST's Participation 

FAST had a presence at HIMSS24 and was thrilled to interact with so many attendees, from the FHIR curious to seasoned FHIR implementers curious, to learn more about FAST’s work. FAST provided volunteer FAST representatives to staff the HL7 Accelerator kiosk in the interoperability showcase. The kiosk buzzed with activity and insightful interactions. FAST also left an indelible mark with multiple presentations at the Spotlight Theater and the HL7 booth, amplifying awareness and fostering dialogue around FHIR infrastructure work. 

Mark Your Calendar: Inaugural FAST Focus Webinar on FHIR Infrastructure Work 

Greetings, all interested in advancing healthcare through smart technology and robust infrastructure! We are thrilled to announce the launch of the FAST Focus, a quarterly webinar series that aims to keep you informed about and engaged with the work of FHIR at Scale Taskforce (FAST). You are invited to join us for the inaugural FAST Focus webinar on March 7, 2024, from 4 PM to 5 PM ET!  

Event Details

• Date and Time: March 7, 2024, 4 PM-5 PM ET 

 Speakers: 

• Alex Kontur, Public Health Analyst, Office of the National Coordinator (ONC)
• Duncan Weatherston, CEO of Smile Digital Health and Co-Chair of FAST
• David Pyke, Technical Director, FAST

 Moderator: Alix Goss, Senior Consultant, Point-of-Care Partners

The first FAST Focus Webinar will provide a deep dive into FAST's history, its pivotal role in crafting a framework for scalable FHIR infrastructure, and its current community focus. This event is not just about history; it's a glimpse into the future of health IT, revealing key projects that FAST has in the pipeline and providing a roadmap for how you can actively engage with our work. As an interactive session, we'll reserve time for a Q&A at the end to address your burning queries. Registrants will have the opportunity to submit questions when registering.  

In a recent episode of HIMSSTV, two healthcare interoperability visionaries, Deepak Sadagopan and Duncan Weatherston, took the virtual stage to share their expert insights on the critical FHIR pathway within the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) model. This captivating discussion was led by the co-chairs of the HL7 FHIR at Scale Taskforce (FAST), and it shed light on the transformative potential of FHIR in shaping the future of healthcare data exchange. 

Meet the FAST Community 

Before we dive into the interview, let's take a moment to acquaint ourselves with the remarkable work being done by the FAST community. The HL7 FHIR at Scale Taskforce is a dedicated group committed to identifying scalability challenges and defining solutions to overcome the barriers to broad FHIR adoption. FAST is addressing key areas like Security for Scalable Registration, Authorization, and Authentication and Interoperable Digital Identity and Patient Matching. The FAST community’s list of projects can be found on the FAST Confluence Project Page. An upcoming project on Consent is set to kick off soon, promising exciting prospects for healthcare data sharing. To get involved, reach out to fast@hl7.org.