Written by Technical Team | Last updated 17.01.2026 | 11 minute read
For digital health innovators seeking to connect their applications with one of the most widely used electronic health record (EHR) systems in the world, Open.epic offers a crucial gateway. Epic Systems, used by thousands of healthcare organisations globally, has developed Open.epic as a publicly accessible developer portal designed to support secure, standards-based integration. Understanding Open.epic integration is essential for innovators looking to build scalable digital health solutions that can interoperate seamlessly with Epic’s clinical and operational infrastructure. As healthcare increasingly depends on connected systems, real-time data access, and interoperable platforms, Open.epic has become a foundational component of the digital health ecosystem.
Key takeaway for digital health innovators: Open.epic integration is the most reliable way to build Epic-compatible healthcare applications using industry standards like FHIR and SMART on FHIR. By leveraging Open.epic APIs and the LaunchPad sandbox, developers can securely access Epic EHR data, test workflows without a live hospital environment, and create scalable digital health solutions that meet interoperability, security, and regulatory requirements.
Open.epic is Epic Systems’ developer platform that provides free access to technical documentation, sandboxes, and interface specifications. Its primary goal is to facilitate interoperability and support the development of applications that can interact with Epic’s EHR environments in a secure, governed, and standards-aligned manner. Rather than requiring proprietary or custom integrations for every project, Open.epic creates a consistent entry point for developers across the Epic ecosystem.
Through Open.epic, developers gain access to modern healthcare standards such as HL7 FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), SMART on FHIR, HL7 v2 and v3 messaging, DICOM for imaging, and other integration methods. This approach ensures that innovators can design solutions aligned with the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) and other international data standards, enabling consistent and reliable data exchange across organisational and geographic boundaries.
Epic reports that billions of patient records are exchanged every year via its Care Everywhere network, and that hundreds of billions of API calls are processed through Open.epic’s web services annually. These figures demonstrate not only the scale of Epic’s interoperability ecosystem but also the maturity of the platform. For innovators, this scale translates into confidence that Open.epic is not experimental or niche, but a proven infrastructure supporting real-world clinical care at massive volume.
FHIR is the backbone of modern digital health interoperability, and Epic has made it central to Open.epic. Developers can access a wide range of FHIR resources, including Patient, Appointment, Condition, Medication, AllergyIntolerance, DiagnosticReport, Observation, Encounter, and DocumentReference. Together, these resources cover the majority of clinical and administrative data required for patient-centred and clinician-facing applications.
Through Open.epic’s FHIR APIs, applications can perform read operations free of charge, allowing developers to build tools that retrieve near real-time patient data with appropriate authorisation. This enables use cases such as patient dashboards, clinical summaries, analytics tools, remote monitoring platforms, and population health insights. Write capabilities are more limited and typically require additional permissions, governance approvals, or licensing agreements. Nevertheless, the read APIs alone provide powerful opportunities for applications focused on decision support, patient engagement, research, quality improvement, and workflow optimisation.
By adhering to the SMART on FHIR framework, applications can be securely launched within Epic’s clinical environment. This allows apps to inherit user identity, patient context, and session-level security, providing a seamless and context-aware experience. For clinicians, this reduces the need to log into multiple systems or manually search for patients, improving usability and adoption.
A key feature of Open.epic integration is its support for SMART on FHIR, an open standard that enables applications to launch inside Epic’s EHR using OAuth 2.0 authorisation. This capability is critical for building apps that fit naturally into clinical workflows. For example, a clinician reviewing a patient chart in Epic can launch a third-party app that automatically opens with the correct patient, encounter, and user role already defined.
To support development and early testing, Epic offers the LaunchPad sandbox. This sandbox environment allows developers to simulate SMART on FHIR launches without requiring access to a live Epic instance at a hospital or clinic. Developers can test authentication flows, validate scope requests, experiment with user interfaces, and confirm data retrieval behaviour using realistic but non-production data.
The availability of LaunchPad significantly lowers the barrier to entry for innovators, particularly startups and independent developers who may not yet have healthcare provider partners. It enables rapid prototyping and iterative improvement before engaging with health systems, saving time and reducing implementation risk.
Beyond FHIR, Open.epic provides access to a broad range of web services using both SOAP/XML and REST/JSON protocols. These services extend integration beyond clinical data into operational, administrative, and infrastructural domains. Examples include scheduling services, billing and claims interfaces, provider directory management, staff and role information, location and resource tracking, computer telephony integration, and imaging workflows through DICOM.
For innovators building solutions that address operational efficiency, patient access, or care coordination, these services are particularly valuable. For instance, an application may combine FHIR-based clinical data with scheduling services to support automated appointment reminders, capacity optimisation, or digital front-door experiences. Similarly, real-time location services can be integrated to improve patient flow, asset tracking, or emergency response coordination within hospitals.
By combining FHIR APIs with these broader web services, developers can create end-to-end solutions that span the full continuum of care, from patient engagement and clinical decision-making to back-office operations and analytics.
Open.epic supports multiple integration approaches, and choosing the right one depends on whether you’re building a patient or clinician app, enabling in-workflow launches, exchanging messages with downstream systems, or connecting operational services like scheduling.
The table below compares the most common Open.epic integration routes so digital health teams can quickly match a use case to the right technical path, including what to expect around standards, authentication, and typical deployment considerations.
| Integration route | Best suited for | Key notes |
|---|---|---|
| FHIR APIs (Epic on FHIR) | Retrieving standard clinical and administrative data for patient-facing apps, dashboards, and analytics | REST-based standard data models; developer access and testing sandboxes are available; supports common FHIR resources and predictable data exchange patterns |
| SMART on FHIR (in-EHR launch) | Clinician-facing apps that need to launch inside Epic with user and patient context | Uses OAuth 2.0 for secure authorisation and context-aware launching; LaunchPad helps validate the launch and auth flow before working with a live health system |
| Epic Web Services | Operational workflows such as scheduling, administrative processes, and Epic-specific capabilities beyond core FHIR data access | Epic provides purpose-built web services where standards are insufficient; requires a client ID and typically coordination with an Epic customer for enablement |
| HL7 v2 / HL7 v3 interfaces | Message-based integrations with laboratories, pharmacies, and external systems already using HL7 messaging | Good for event-driven workflows and legacy interoperability; implementation details vary by interface and receiving system expectations |
| DICOM interfaces | Imaging workflows and exchanging imaging-related data with PACS or imaging systems | Designed for imaging interoperability; often used alongside other integration methods when apps need both clinical context and imaging information |
Security and privacy are core principles of Epic integration. All access is governed through authentication, authorisation scopes, and auditability. Applications must adhere to strict security requirements, including secure token handling, encrypted data transmission, and role-based access controls.
Innovators must also comply with relevant regulatory frameworks, such as HIPAA in the United States and GDPR in Europe, depending on where their solution is deployed. This includes implementing appropriate consent management, data minimisation practices, breach response plans, and documentation. Healthcare organisations will typically review these aspects closely before approving an application for production use, making compliance readiness a critical success factor.
For innovators keen to begin integrating with Open.epic, the first step is to register via Epic’s developer portal. Registration provides access to documentation, technical guides, sample requests, and sandbox environments. Developers must then create a client ID for their application and request the appropriate scopes, which define what data and actions the app is permitted to access.
Once the technical groundwork has been laid, developers can test their application within the LaunchPad sandbox. This phase focuses on ensuring smooth authentication, secure data handling, error management, and acceptable performance. Thorough sandbox testing helps identify issues early and demonstrates technical maturity to prospective healthcare partners.
The next step is to work with a healthcare organisation that uses Epic. Access to live Epic environments is governed by each organisation’s IT, security, and compliance teams. Innovators typically need a sponsoring organisation to approve the app, configure access, and support deployment. This collaborative process is essential, as it ensures that the solution aligns with local workflows, governance policies, and clinical priorities.
Open.epic supports a wide range of use cases across the healthcare spectrum. Patient-facing applications can use FHIR APIs to provide access to visit summaries, medications, lab results, and care plans, empowering individuals to take a more active role in their health. Provider-facing tools can deliver decision support, risk stratification, documentation assistance, or care gap identification directly within Epic workflows.
Open.epic also enables integration with public health registries, payer platforms, research databases, and quality reporting systems. This makes it a strong foundation for innovators focused on population health management, value-based care, clinical trials, and outcomes measurement. As healthcare increasingly relies on data-driven insights, these integration capabilities become even more valuable.
Open.epic integration opens the door to significant opportunities. It provides access to one of the largest EHR user bases in the world, supports standards-based development, and enables deep workflow integration. For many digital health companies, Epic compatibility is a prerequisite for enterprise adoption.
However, challenges remain. While FHIR read access is free, advanced write operations, bulk data exports, or high-volume use cases may require commercial agreements. Variability in Epic configuration across healthcare organisations can also introduce complexity, requiring testing and adaptation for each deployment. Additionally, sales cycles in healthcare are often long, and institutional approval processes can be resource-intensive.
As healthcare systems continue to prioritise interoperability, patient access, and digital transformation, Open.epic is expected to expand in both scope and capability. Ongoing investment in FHIR, SMART on FHIR, and emerging interoperability standards positions Epic to support new regulatory requirements and innovation models. Increased focus on patient access APIs, data sharing mandates, and cross-organisational care coordination will further elevate the importance of Open.epic.
For digital health innovators, Open.epic represents not just a technical platform but a strategic opportunity. By enabling secure, scalable integration with Epic’s vast EHR infrastructure, it offers a pathway to impact millions of patients and clinicians worldwide. The ability to integrate effectively with Epic through Open.epic is therefore a significant competitive advantage for any digital health solution seeking widespread adoption.
Epic integration is integral for innovators aiming to build solutions that connect with Epic’s extensive clinical and operational systems. By providing access to FHIR APIs, SMART on FHIR workflows, comprehensive web services, and robust governance frameworks, it empowers developers to create secure, scalable, and impactful health technologies. While challenges such as institutional approval and limited write access remain, the potential rewards in terms of reach, interoperability, and real-world impact are immense. For those serious about driving meaningful digital transformation in healthcare, understanding and leveraging Open.epic is an essential step forward.
Do you need to be an Epic customer to start developing with Open.epic?
No. Developers can register on the Open.epic portal and begin building and testing applications without being an Epic customer. Access to live production environments, however, always requires sponsorship and approval from an Epic-using healthcare organisation.
Can Open.epic be used for commercial digital health products?
Yes. Open.epic is widely used by commercial digital health vendors. While many APIs, particularly FHIR read access, are available at no cost, commercial deployments may involve additional agreements depending on functionality, scale, and write access requirements.
How long does it typically take to go live with an Open.epic integration?
Timelines vary significantly. Technical development and sandbox testing can often be completed in weeks, but production go-live depends on healthcare organisation approvals, security reviews, and Epic configuration, which can take several months.
Is Open.epic integration the same across all Epic hospitals?
No. While Open.epic uses standardised APIs, individual Epic customers configure their environments differently. Variations in enabled modules, workflows, and security policies mean apps should be tested and validated for each deployment.
Does Open.epic support international healthcare systems outside the US?
Yes. Epic is used globally, and Open.epic supports international deployments. However, available data elements, regulatory requirements, and interoperability expectations may differ by country, so developers should plan for regional adaptation.
Is your team looking for help with Epic integration? Click the button below.
Get in touch