FHIR Connection Guide
If your EMR is not one of the three directly supported systems (Open Dental, athenahealth, DrChrono), you can connect it using FHIR -- a universal healthcare data standard supported by most modern EMR systems.
What is FHIR?
FHIR (pronounced "fire") is a modern standard for sharing healthcare data securely between systems. Think of it as a universal translator that lets different healthcare systems talk to each other.
If your EMR was built or updated after 2020, it almost certainly supports FHIR. The US government now requires it.
Before You Start
You will need one or two pieces of information from your EMR:
| Item | What It Is | Who Has It |
|---|---|---|
| FHIR Server URL | The web address of your EMR's FHIR connection point | Your IT department or EMR vendor |
| Client ID (sometimes optional) | An identifier that tells your EMR "OzyOps is allowed to connect" | Created by your IT admin in your EMR's settings |
How to Get These
Option A: Ask your IT department
"We are connecting OzyOps to read our appointment schedule. Can you give me our FHIR server URL and register OzyOps as an approved application?"
Option B: Contact your EMR vendor
"We need to connect a third-party scheduling application via FHIR. Can you help us get set up?"
Option C: Self-service (for tech-savvy users)
- Log into your EMR's admin panel.
- Look for "API Access," "Developer Settings," or "Third-Party Apps."
- Find your FHIR base URL.
- Register a new application called "OzyOps."
Step-by-Step Connection
Step 1: Open FHIR Settings
- Log into your OzyOps dashboard.
- Go to Settings > EMR Integration.
- Click the FHIR Connections tab.
- Click Start FHIR Setup.
Step 2: Choose Your EMR Type
Select the card that matches your EMR:
| If You Use... | Select... |
|---|---|
| Epic MyChart | Epic MyChart |
| Cerner/Oracle Health | Cerner Millennium |
| Other EMR or unsure | Generic FHIR |
Not sure? Choose Generic FHIR -- it works with any FHIR-compatible system.
Step 3: Enter Your Connection Details
- FHIR Server URL: Paste the URL from your IT department.
- Example:
https://fhir.yourpractice.com/api/R4
- Example:
- Client ID (if required): Paste the ID from your IT department.
- Leave blank if your EMR does not require it.
- Click Test Connection.
Step 4: Review Capabilities
OzyOps automatically detects what your EMR supports:
| Capability | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Patient | We can look up patient records |
| Schedule | We can see provider availability |
| Slot | We can see specific open time slots |
| Appointment (Read) | We can see existing appointments |
| Appointment (Write) | We can book appointments directly |
If you see "Read-Only Mode", your EMR does not allow external systems to create appointments. That is okay -- OzyOps will queue booking requests for your staff to complete manually.
Step 5: Authorize (If Required)
If you entered a Client ID:
- Click Authorize Connection.
- You will be redirected to your EMR's login page.
- Log in with your EMR credentials.
- Approve OzyOps to access scheduling data.
- You will be redirected back to OzyOps.
Step 6: Done
Your connection is now active. OzyOps can:
- Check patient appointment history
- View available time slots
- Book appointments (or queue them for staff if read-only)
EMR-Specific Notes
Epic MyChart
- Your Epic admin registers OzyOps in Epic App Orchard.
- They provide you with a Client ID.
- FHIR URL format:
https://[your-epic-server]/interconnect-fhir-oauth/api/FHIR/R4
Cerner / Oracle Health
- Register at code.cerner.com (IT department handles this).
- Create an application for OzyOps.
- FHIR URL format:
https://fhir-myrecord.cerner.com/r4/[tenant-id]
athenahealth
You can use either:
- FHIR connection (this guide)
- Native athenahealth adapter (Settings > EMR > Native EMR tab)
The native adapter may offer more features. Contact support to find out which is better for your practice.
What Data Does OzyOps Access?
Only scheduling-related data:
- Patient name and contact info (to match callers)
- Provider schedules (to offer available times)
- Appointment slots (to book or queue appointments)
OzyOps does NOT access:
- Medical records
- Lab results
- Prescriptions
- Billing information
Is This HIPAA Compliant?
Yes. FHIR connections use:
- OAuth 2.0 + PKCE -- Bank-level security for the connection
- HTTPS encryption -- All data is encrypted in transit
- Scoped access -- We only request the minimum permissions needed
OzyOps maintains a signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with all healthcare clients.
Troubleshooting
| Error | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| "Connection refused" | Wrong URL | Double-check the FHIR URL with your IT team |
| "Unauthorized" | Client ID issue | Verify the Client ID or check if OzyOps needs to be registered in your EMR |
| "Timeout" | Network/firewall | Your IT may need to whitelist OzyOps IP addresses |
Contact support@ozyops.com. We may be able to connect via your EMR's native API or an HL7v2 interface for older systems.
Need Help?
- Email: support@ozyops.com
- Phone: Schedule a setup call at calendly.com/ozyops
We are happy to join a call with your IT team to walk through the setup together.