A framework based on real-world application.

Our standards and best practice recommendations work together to form a foundation for comprehensive health information exchange systems.

  • Standards-Based

    Standards-Based

    We adopt best practices and influence international health information sharing standards to keep our recommendations up-to-date.

  • Implementable

    Implementable

    The OpenHIE Architecture provides patterns that can be used as foundations to support complex, interoperable systems for information exchange.

  • Modular

    Modular

    Our architecture recommendations are not one-size-fits-all. The components are modular to make the system work for your community’s needs.

The Architecture

A Health Information Exchange (HIE) makes sharing health data across information systems possible. It enables data to be shared between databases, facilities, and across regions or countries.

OpenHIE’s Architecture is made up of patterns that ensure that health information from various external systems is gathered into a single, unified HIE. To accomplish this, the exchange normalizes the context in which health information is used by focusing on the “for whom”, ”by whom”, “where”, and “what” of a patient’s health visit, bringing relevant information through a layer of interoperability and directly to the point of service. Additionally, OpenHIE also integrates medical supply data. This supports enhanced decision-making, improves the quality, safety, and continuity of care, and facilitates the appropriate use of information to improve health in a population.

| Layer 1 |
Architecture Components

Business Domain Services & Registry Services

The first layer of the architecture consists of business domain services and registry services. Business domain components are designed to support specific health system business domains and would have the potential to combine data from multiple point-of-service and point-of-care systems. Registry services are designed to uniquely identify and track unique patients, facilities, healthcare products and terminology that are used throughout the health information exchange.

See Components
Business Domain Services
  • 45
    Logistics Management System
    Logistics Management System
  • 46
    Shared Health Records
    Shared Health Records
  • 47
    Health Management Information System
    Health Management Information System
  • 48
    Finance and Insurance Service
    Finance and Insurance Service
Registry Services
  • 49
    Terminology Services
    Terminology Services
  • 50
    Client Registry
    Client Registry
  • 51
    Facility Registry
    Facility Registry
  • 52
    Health Worker Registry
    Health Worker Registry
  • 53
    Product Catalogue
    Product Catalogue
| Layer 2 |
Interoperability Layer

Interoperability Services Layer

The second layer of the architecture acts as a gateway between the business domain and registry services and the points of service, keeping data secure and consistent.

| Layer 3 |
Point of Service

Point of Service Layer

Points of service , including those such as OpenMRS electronic medical records (EMR) system and the RapidSMS mHealth application, are used by clinicians and by community health workers to access and update a patient’s person-centric shared health information and to record healthcare transactions.

See Points of Service
Points of Service
  • 54
    Community Health Information System
    Community Health Information System
  • 55
    Electronic Medical Record
    Electronic Medical Record
  • 47
    Health Management Information System
    Health Management Information System
  • 56
    Lab System
    Lab System
  • 57
    Pharmacy System
    Pharmacy System
  • 45
    Logistics Management System
    Logistics Management System
  • 48
    Finance and Insurance Service
    Finance and Insurance Service

OpenHIE Architecture Specification

This specification documents the OpenHIE Architecture components and the requirements for each OpenHIE component. In addition, the specification documents the OpenHIE workflows (data exchanges) and the underlying standards that support the workflows.

This is a living document created by the OpenHIE Community and based upon real-world implementations and needs. You are encouraged to provide comments, proposed edits, and other suggestions for future versions on our Discourse forum site. If you have questions or need help unrelated to this guide, please contact us.

View Specification

OHIE In Action

Take a look at how the OpenHIE Community is helping to solve health problems and improve outcomes for resource emerging communities across the globe.

Systematizing communication channels to support health messaging needs in West Africa and beyond

Systematizing communication channels to support health messaging needs in West Africa and beyond

A two-way communication system that was developed in 2014 to address Ebola in West Africa has been deployed in several countries to serve health workers in crises, including COVID-19, and other messaging needs like routine data collection and disease surveillance.

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Nigeria Data Exchange Architecture for the National Data Repository

Nigeria Data Exchange Architecture for the National Data Repository

Establishing health data exchange architectures, interfaces, and standards that enable data to be accessed and shared appropriately and securely across the complete spectrum of care, within all applicable settings and with all relevant stakeholders so the data can be used and interpreted cohesively culminating in the development of the Nigeria National Data Repository (NDR).

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Master Facility List Experiences and Lessons from Mozambique

Master Facility List Experiences and Lessons from Mozambique

Addressing Roadblocks on the pathway to creating a Master Facility List in Mozambique and other countries

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OpenHIE Academy in Ethiopia

OpenHIE Academy in Ethiopia

Leveraging local universities: Capacity building for continual and sustainable health service improvement and digitization effort.

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Developing an Architecture: Building Foundational Registries and Exchange Components

Developing an Architecture: Building Foundational Registries and Exchange Components

The Malawi Ministry of Health Digital Health Division has outlined a national health architecture and is working towards creating a repository for access to information with the ability to do more with this data.

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Addressing Immunization Service Delivery Issues in Tanzania and Zambia

Addressing Immunization Service Delivery Issues in Tanzania and Zambia

Improving health data sharing to reach more children with life-saving vaccines in Tanzania and Zambia.

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Aggregating Fragmented Health Data in Malawi

Aggregating Fragmented Health Data in Malawi

Increasing health data access and use by stakeholders in Malawi.

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Reaching Health Standards and Creating a Client Registry in Haiti

Reaching Health Standards and Creating a Client Registry in Haiti

Global goods teamed up to achieve healthcare sustainability and address key issues in HIV care and treatment

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Implementing an Open-Source Laboratory Information System in Kenya

Implementing an Open-Source Laboratory Information System in Kenya

Providing a Sustainable and Affordable Laboratory Information System (LIS) for Developing Countries

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Creating a Health Information Exchange System in Rwanda

Creating a Health Information Exchange System in Rwanda

SAVICS leverages global goods to enable the Rwanda Health Information Exchange Systems (RHIES)

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Achieving a Master Patient Index in Myanmar with SantéSuite

Achieving a Master Patient Index in Myanmar with SantéSuite

Shifting to person-focused digital health systems to improve data collection and achieve UHC

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Supporting COVID-19 Data Exchange Needs

Supporting COVID-19 Data Exchange Needs

Global Goods collaborate to meet country needs in COVID case reporting and data exchange

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The Ongoing Journey to a Master Facility Registry in Ethiopia

The Ongoing Journey to a Master Facility Registry in Ethiopia

Using existing data and eHealth Architecture to build up a country-wide facility registry

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Health Worker Registry Project Benefitted Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond in South Africa

Health Worker Registry Project Benefitted Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond in South Africa

Newly-launched Human Resources for Health Registry allows for quality data at the fingertips for those who need to make informed decisions, planning, and reporting.

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