Healthcare Data Interoperability Done Right: FHIR, UDMH, and Real Outcomes
Healthcare data is some of the most complex, regulated, and mission‑critical data in any industry. Yet many organizations are still struggling with fragmented systems, slow integrations, and data that can’t reliably support reporting, compliance, or clinical insight.
In this episode of ASCII Anything, we sat down with John Murphy, one of Moser Consulting’s most respected healthcare data experts, to unpack what actually works when it comes to healthcare data interoperability—and why standards like FHIR, HL7, and the Unified Data Model for Healthcare (UDMH) matter more than ever.
This isn’t theoretical. John has spent decades designing and leading real‑world healthcare data transformations for organizations ranging from small providers to massive national health systems.
Why Healthcare Interoperability Is Different
Healthcare is one of the most standardized data environments in the world—and for good reason. Clinical care, billing, outcomes reporting, and compliance all depend on data moving seamlessly and accurately between systems.
According to John, that’s why healthcare interoperability succeeds when it’s rooted in industry standards, not custom integrations.
“Everybody in the healthcare universe knows HL7 and FHIR,” John explains. “They’re universal. If you need to integrate healthcare data across systems, you already have a built‑in accelerator.”
FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) and HL7 give organizations a common language for exchanging healthcare data. Instead of reinventing mappings for every new system, organizations can rely on standards that already describe patients, diagnoses, procedures, admissions, and outcomes in consistent, well‑defined ways.
Where UDMH Fits In
While FHIR and HL7 govern how healthcare data moves, UDMH (Unified Data Model for Healthcare) addresses how that data is organized, governed, and understood once it lands.
John played a central role in developing UDMH during his time working on IBM’s healthcare industry models. The model connects clinical data, claims data, supply chain data, and reporting requirements into a comprehensive, business‑aligned structure.
What makes UDMH especially powerful is that it embeds healthcare standards directly into the data model itself—turning integration and governance into a repeatable, scalable process.
“UDMH isn’t just tables and columns,” John says. “It’s the relationships, behaviors, and reporting requirements that healthcare organizations are expected to support.”
Today, the UDMH legacy lives on through metadata‑driven knowledge accelerators that help organizations map legacy systems to modern architectures faster and more reliably.
Privacy and Consent Are Not Optional
In healthcare, data usage is inseparable from privacy, consent, and compliance. John emphasizes that privacy is not a downstream concern—it’s foundational.
Successful architectures start with clear definitions of patients, practitioners, and data ownership, supported by master data management and governance frameworks that prove compliance, not just assume it.
“Privacy is everything in healthcare,” John explains. “Using the data is important—but proving compliance is just as critical.”
By aligning data models to regulatory reporting requirements from the beginning, organizations can reduce risk while still unlocking analytical value.
From Legacy Systems to Modern Models
One of the most common questions healthcare leaders ask is: How do we modernize without breaking everything?
John’s answer is refreshingly grounded—start where the standards already exist.
Claims standards (such as CMS 837), HL7 messages, and FHIR resources provide a clear roadmap for mapping legacy data to modern platforms. Instead of custom logic, organizations can rely on accelerators that already understand these relationships.
The result? Faster integrations, lower costs, and data that actually supports outcomes analysis and operational decision‑making.
Why Business Context Matters
What truly sets John apart is his business‑first approach to data architecture. With formal education in finance and deep experience in insurance and healthcare operations, he sees data as a reflection of how organizations function—not just how systems are built.
“The first question I ask isn’t what database you’re using,” John says. “It’s what does your business measure—and why?”
That mindset helps healthcare organizations move beyond disconnected technical projects to data platforms that support clinical insight, financial accuracy, and long‑term strategy.
Why This Conversation Matters Now
Healthcare organizations are under unprecedented pressure: rising costs, increased regulatory scrutiny, and growing expectations for data‑driven care. Interoperability is no longer a nice‑to‑have—it’s a requirement.
This ASCII Anything episode offers something rare: deep industry knowledge paired with practical guidance from someone who has done this work at every scale imaginable.
If you work in:
Healthcare IT
Data & Analytics
Interoperability & Integration
Compliance & Governance
…this conversation provides insights you can apply immediately.
🎧 Listen to the Full Episode
Catch the full ASCII Anything episode featuring John Murphy and hear firsthand how FHIR, UDMH, and healthcare data governance drive real outcomes.
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About ASCII Anything
ASCII Anything is a podcast produced by Moser Consulting, featuring honest, expert‑driven conversations on technology, business, and the people building what’s next.
