Health apps have the potential to lower the barrier to quality care. However, building apps and tools that can share health information across systems and work in areas with limited internet connectivity is a challenge for every developer. To address this, Google has unveiled a ground-breaking solution—Open Health Stack (OHS).
In this article, we will delve deeper into Google’s Open Health Stack and understand its key features, benefits and potential to transform healthcare delivery.
What is the Open Health Stack?
Open Health Stack (OHS) is a suite of open-source components and developer resources launched by Google at its annual Google Health event—The Check Up. Built on an interoperable data standard, OHS accelerates the development of interoperable digital health solutions, focusing on standards, security, and advanced analytics.
Designed to meet the specific needs of developers, OHS empowers them to build and deploy Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR)-based solutions for healthcare workers.
For instance, imagine healthcare workers in rural areas being able to access critical information for treating patients with tuberculosis or monitoring community health through population health data. Developers can make this possible with OHS.
How Open Health Stack addresses developers’ concerns?
Developers face several challenges integrating open standards like FHIR into their solutions, particularly in resource-constrained settings.
OHS components offer a comprehensive set of features that simplify the transition to FHIR for developers. For instance, the Android FHIR SDK provides bi-directional sync and storage capabilities. It enables full offline functionality for mobile app developers, making it easier for them to create robust and user-friendly health applications using FHIR.
How does Google’s Open Health Stack work?
OHS enables faster app development and deployment with components like:
FHIR-based Android apps
The Android FHIR SDK provides modular libraries for data collection, offline solutions, and clinical decision support, enabling developers to build secure and compliant FHIR native applications quickly.
FHIR Info gateway
The Info Gateway, when used in conjunction with the Android FHIR SDK, enhances privacy and access control for offline data sync operations. It allows role-based access to patient data, ensuring only relevant health workers can access sensitive data.
FHIR analytics solutions
FHIR Data Pipes simplify querying FHIR data by transforming it into an SQL-on-FHIR format, making it easier to generate insights while maintaining data security.
This enables developers to generate insights to populate dashboards and enable effective decision-making across healthcare programs.
Hybrid architecture
OHS component modularity allows developers to choose the best-fit solutions for specific problems, such as transforming non-FHIR data into FHIR for analytics or integrating FHIR-native apps with existing systems.
Foundations for end-to-end digital health solutions
OHS components provide core features such as sync and offline capabilities, reducing technical complexity and allowing developers to focus on value-added features.
Additionally, Google has also worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) to align OHS with WHO’s recommendations for app development on Android and has ensured that the developer tools are in line with Digital Public Goods Alliance’s data privacy best practices.
Several partners around the world, including Ona, IPRD Solutions, Argusoft and Intellisoft, have already built solutions using OHS, which are being used across Sub-Saharan Africa, India, and Southeast Asia.
Benefits of the Open Health Stack
Improved healthcare outcomes
OHS enables interoperability and data exchange among healthcare systems, reducing data silos and facilitating access to critical patient information. This leads to more coordinated and informed care delivery, improving healthcare outcomes.
Streamlined healthcare operations
OHS provides design guidelines and developer resources to enable the quick adoption of best practices, making it easier to build and deploy digital health solutions.
It also allows for secure and offline-capable patient data storage, streamlining operations, improving workflow efficiency and enabling care delivery in remote areas.
Potential cost savings
OHS components are open-source, providing cost-effective solutions for developers and potential cost savings for patients and healthcare providers.
By leveraging the FHIR standard and open-source resources, developers can build robust health applications without expensive proprietary software, reducing development costs.
Future implications of Open Health Stack
Transform healthcare
OHS has the potential to transform healthcare by enabling seamless data interoperability, improving patient care coordination, and facilitating evidence-based decision-making for better patient outcomes.
Empowering different healthcare settings
OHS can be used in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, telehealth, remote and rural areas, and low-resource settings. It can empower healthcare providers with valuable tools and technologies to enhance patient care delivery and outcomes.
Innovation in healthcare solutions
OHS can serve as a foundation for developers to build innovative healthcare solutions by leveraging its modular components and robust capabilities. This can lead to the creation of new applications, devices, and services that can improve healthcare access, quality, and affordability.
Collaboration and standardisation
OHS promotes collaboration among stakeholders, including healthcare providers, patients, researchers, and technology developers. It also promotes adherence to industry standards, such as FHIR, to ensure data consistency and interoperability.
Patient-centric care
OHS has the potential to empower patients by giving them control over their health data, enabling them to actively participate in their healthcare decisions and foster personalised care plans based on their individual needs.
Google and healthcare
Google’s every involvement in healthcare is part of its broader effort to integrate health into its products and services and provide consumers with more accessible and personalised health information.
Through partnerships, advancements in AI technology, and launches like YouTube Health and Google Health, Google continues to drive innovation to create a positive impact on healthcare outcomes for communities across the globe.
With the introduction of the Open Health Stack, Google continues to demonstrate its dedication to addressing challenges and driving innovation in healthcare.
To conclude
Google’s Open Health Stack holds immense potential. It can drive interoperability, improve patient care coordination, foster innovation, and empower patients. However, the vast amount of health data it collects raises concerns about data privacy, security, and potential misuse of health data.
While Google has taken measures to enable the smooth and secure development of health apps, the success of OHS depends on widespread adoption, effective implementation and overcoming technical, organisational and cultural challenges in healthcare.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
