Question 1

How do I use the SMART on FHIR client in Python to read patient data?

Accepted Answer

Use the FHIRClient class with settings like api_base, then call Patient.read() with a patient ID and server instance, as shown in the README example that prints birth dates and names from an open FHIR server.

Question 2

fhirclient vs fhirpy: which Python FHIR library should I choose?

Accepted Answer

Choose fhirclient if you need integrated SMART on FHIR OAuth2 support and data validation; fhirpy is better for async requests but lacks OAuth. fhirclient combines models and client, while fhirpy focuses on performance with async.

Question 3

How to handle OAuth2 authorization with FHIR servers in Python using fhirclient?

Accepted Answer

Call smart.authorize_url to get the login URL for protected servers, and use smart.prepare() to check readiness. The README shows how to initialize FHIRClient and handle authorization flows for secure data access.

Question 4

Does fhirclient support asynchronous requests for better performance?

Accepted Answer

No, fhirclient does not support asynchronous HTTP requests; it uses synchronous calls, which may bottleneck in high-load applications. For async needs, consider alternatives like fhirpy mentioned in the README.

Question 5

How to install and run the Flask demo app for SMART on FHIR?

Accepted Answer

Clone the repository, navigate to demos/flask, set up a virtual environment, install requirements.txt, edit flask_app.py with your server URL, and run it. The README provides step-by-step commands for this setup.

Question 6

What FHIR versions does fhirclient support, and how do I check compatibility?

Accepted Answer

It supports R4, STU-3, and DSTU2, with version mapping detailed in the README table. Check the client version (e.g., 4.2.0 for FHIR 4.0.1) to ensure compatibility with your server's FHIR release.

Question 7

How to search for FHIR resources with included related resources using fhirclient?

Accepted Answer

Use the where() method on resource classes with struct parameters, then chain include() for related resources, as demonstrated in the Encounter search example that includes Patient and Procedure resources in the results.

Python SMART on FHIR client

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