What do wine and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, and CQL and FHIR have in common? They’re all perfect pairings, each more impactful when brought together. While wine and cheese elevate each other’s flavors, the synergy between CQL (Clinical Quality Language) and FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) transforms healthcare data into actionable insights. We’ve already covered what CQL is and its role in healthcare delivery, now let’s talk about where FHIR and b.well come into play.
Why CQL and FHIR Are the Perfect Pair
FHIR is the backbone of healthcare data interoperability, enabling standardized and seamless exchange of clinical information. However, raw data alone isn’t enough. Enter CQL, the logic layer that makes this data actionable. FHIR ensures data flows freely between systems, while CQL interprets that data to create meaningful, standardized, and reusable quality measures.
Together, these standards ensure not only that health data is shared but that it drives informed decisions and measurable outcomes. For instance, FHIR might communicate a patient’s A1C results, but it’s CQL that determines whether those results warrant action, such as scheduling a follow-up or modifying a treatment plan.
How b.well Makes This Pairing Work
At b.well, we’re not just adopting CQL and FHIR, we’re pushing the boundaries of their potential. By applying standard software development practices to these frameworks, we’ve built a modular Clinical Grouping architecture. This approach breaks down complex clinical scenarios into reusable libraries, each targeting specific conditions like hypertension or diabetes.
Each Clinical Grouping focuses on one condition or event and returns standardized data sets, which can then be applied across multiple care needs. For example, hypertension clinical grouping isn’t limited to managing blood pressure results—it also supports broader care pathways like pregnancy or cardiovascular health. This modularity ensures flexibility, consistency, and efficiency across care protocols.
The Secret Sauce: Transforming Data into Patient-Centric Care
Beyond our modular architecture, b.well brings two critical innovations that set our approach apart:
Unified Patient Experience
Imagine having all your healthcare information, solutions, and services in one place—just like you manage other aspects of your digital life. Our platform breaks down the traditional barriers of fragmented healthcare data, allowing healthcare consumers to manage their health from a single, intuitive interface. No more multiple logins, no more hunting through different systems. We’re making healthcare as seamless as ordering a ride or checking your bank account.
Consumer-Centric Model
We’re flipping the script on traditional healthcare information access. Our CQL architecture doesn’t just serve providers, it puts consumers in the driver’s seat. Individuals can now see their care needs and receive personalized health insights that were previously locked away in provider dashboards. It’s healthcare communication that actually speaks your language.
By reimagining how healthcare data is used and presented, b.well is not just implementing CQL and FHIR. We’re creating a more accessible, engaging, and personalized healthcare experience.
Pioneering with CQL
Our commitment to CQL doesn’t stop at implementation. We’ve developed a proprietary library of over 150 CQL algorithms that identify patient cohorts, assess care requirements, and ensure adherence to evidence-based guidelines. By automating these processes, we eliminate variability in care delivery, ensuring uniform and accurate application of clinical guidelines.
Take hypertension as an example. CQL algorithms can identify patients with the condition, determine whether they’re meeting recommended care activities, at risk for other conditions, and trigger reminders for necessary interventions. This precision enables payers and providers to achieve value-based care objectives, improve compliance with NCQA standards, and enhance patient outcomes.
Breaking Down Barriers to Adoption
While CQL is poised to become the gold standard for quality measures, many organizations struggle with its adoption. The real challenge lies in mastering FHIR, the foundation upon which CQL operates. This learning curve, combined with limited investment in training, has slowed the widespread implementation of these technologies.
At b.well, we see this as an opportunity to lead. By being one of the first out of the gate in adoption of CQL and FHIR, we’re uniquely positioned to help organizations overcome these barriers, partner with NCQA, and drive industry-wide adoption.
Why This Pairing Matters Now
As CQL gains traction with NCQA and CMS, its role in healthcare is set to grow exponentially. Its simplicity compared to traditional SQL-based measures makes it more accessible, and its integration with FHIR ensures data interoperability at scale. This combination not only enhances quality reporting but also streamlines clinical decision-making and consumer health engagement.
For healthcare organizations, adopting CQL and FHIR isn’t just about compliance. It’s about transforming data into meaningful, actionable insights that improve care delivery and outcomes. And for consumers, it’s about receiving timely, personalized care that feels as intuitive as ordering groceries or scheduling a ride.
Technical Deep Dive
This simple CQL snippet demonstrates:
- Direct interaction with FHIR resources
- Extraction of specific clinical criteria
- Potential for automated patient cohort identification
CQL and FHIR Are Revolutionizing Interoperability and Care Quality
The pairing of CQL and FHIR is not just a technological advancement. It’s an evolutionary step toward truly interoperable, consumer-centered healthcare. By combining the power of FHIR’s standardized data exchange with the actionable insights provided by CQL, organizations can move beyond simply sharing information to delivering meaningful, measurable results.
At b.well Connected Health, we’re not just adopting these standards, we’re actively driving their evolution. With a proprietary CQL library, reusable clinical grouping architecture, and expertise in interoperability, we’re setting a new standard for what’s possible in healthcare IT while keeping the patient in the driver seat.
As CQL and FHIR gain adoption across the industry, the opportunity to deliver consistent, actionable care has never been greater. Together, they lay the foundation for a healthcare system where patients receive the right care at the right time, and where providers and payers can measure success in outcomes, not just actions.
For more on how b.well is enabling CQL and FHIR with partnerships like NCQA, contact us.
