The digital health landscape is rapidly changing, with more and more providers turning to digital solutions to improve the quality of their medical services. As the healthcare industry evolves, stakeholders must understand why interoperability is crucial and how it can help them deliver better care, enhance the use of health data, and optimize their workflow.
According to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), healthcare interoperability is the capacity for healthcare systems, devices, and applications to access, exchange, incorporate, and utilize data smoothly across the healthcare ecosystem.
This article will provide a comprehensive overview of interoperability in healthcare explained, detailing how it can benefit medical organizations. We will also discuss data interoperability challenges and the commonly used solutions, seeing how you can implement a framework for healthcare that ensures maximum clinical benefit.
Are you ready to break down data silos? Contact SPsoft to learn how we can help you implement a robust interoperability strategy that transforms your facility into a connected, high-performance health system!
Table of Contents
What Is Interoperability, and How Does It Impact Healthcare?
Interoperability involves the ability of two or more systems to exchange and use information. In the context of digital health, data interoperability involves the exchange of medical information between providers, health systems, and patients. Healthcare providers must ensure they can share patient data securely and efficiently. Demand for the security of healthcare interoperability solutions pushes the creation of data standards allowing information to be exchanged constantly across a secure infrastructure that can protect the data and keep it accurate and up-to-date.
The Four Levels of Interoperability
To understand interoperability in healthcare, one must look at the four levels of healthcare interoperability defined by HIMSS:
- Foundational Interoperability. This level of interoperability establishes the basic requirements needed for one healthcare system to send data to another. It does not require the receiving system to interpret the data.
- Structural Interoperability. This level defines the format, syntax, and organization of data exchange (syntactic interoperability). It ensures that the healthcare data standards allow for the systematic organization of health information.
- Semantic Interoperability. This is where interoperability helps the most. Semantic interoperability ensures that the data is not only exchanged but also interpreted. It uses data standards to ensure that the “meaning” of the data remains consistent across different healthcare information systems.
- Organizational Interoperability. This highest level of interoperability includes governance, policy, and legal considerations that allow healthcare organizations to share data across different healthcare provision settings.
Exploring the Core Benefits of Healthcare Interoperability
Interoperability in health data management is a powerful enabler of the secure sharing of patient data between healthcare providers, allowing for more effective healthcare. These are just some of the benefits of interoperability in healthcare:
Improved Patient Care
Interoperability allows for sharing vital health information, promoting more informed decisions and improved patient care. In medical informatics, true interoperability enables healthcare providers to access and exchange all-encompassing clinical data quickly. By improving the flow of information, interoperability helps healthcare providers to save time and resources.
It also helps strengthen care quality through efficient EHR interoperability solutions. Healthcare providers can access health records easily, ensuring that the most precise information is used. Meanwhile, interoperability ensures that healthcare providers can access the most recent and complete data sets, which helps improve patient safety. With better availability of healthcare information, interoperability would reduce healthcare costs by eliminating redundant tests.
Higher Efficiency and Workflow Optimization
With streamlined data exchange, medical providers can improve their healthcare operations. Healthcare interoperability is important because it increases the effectiveness of healthcare delivery by allowing physicians to securely access data across different healthcare IT systems. This type of data sharing enables access to health information from multiple sources, such as Electronic Health Record (EHR) platforms and Health Information Exchanges (HIE). Improved access to data helps healthcare providers make better decisions and reduce medical errors.
Cost Reduction and Cost Efficiency
Interoperability can reduce data exchange and data storage costs. Since it allows healthcare providers and payers to exchange data securely, the information is not siloed. That cuts inefficiencies and reduces the costs associated with manual data entry. Interoperability also enables patients to access their own health record, helping them take a more active role in their treatment. This interoperability and access guarantee the reduction of administrative costs related to tracking medical records.
Better Data Accuracy
By eliminating duplicates, interoperability requires that the data used is accurate and relevant. Breaking down barriers between healthcare systems allows for a more comprehensive view of a patient’s health. It ensures everyone in the healthcare system is on the same page. Clinics can reduce the risk of inaccuracies like redundant treatments, minimizing the chance of lost data.
What Are the EHR Interoperability Solutions?
Electronic health records, HIE platforms, and health information technology (HIT) are the most common healthcare interoperability solutions. An electronic health record gives care providers a 360-view of a patient’s history and can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. HIE platforms provide a secure way to share patient data between systems and across medical organizations. However, there are some interoperability resources, standards, and rules you must be aware of:
- FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources). FHIR is an open-source healthcare interoperability standard developed by Health Level Seven International (HL7). It enables healthcare data exchange between different healthcare IT systems.
- Direct Project. The Direct Project is another open-source protocol facilitating secure healthcare information exchange between providers. Based on Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP), it provides a secure, reliable, and interoperable means of exchanging patient information.
- IHE (Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise). IHE is a set of standards designed to enable the exchange of data between different healthcare information systems, using existing standards such as HL7 and DICOM.
- Health Level Seven (HL7). HL7 is an international organization developing standards for exchanging healthcare data. It is widely accepted in the healthcare industry and used by many organizations.
- Office of the National Coordinator (ONC). The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology helps drive nationwide interoperability policies regarding the interoperability and patient access under the Final Rule.
Challenges of Interoperability and Possible Solutions
Despite the advantages that can transform healthcare, many healthcare organizations still need to overcome barriers to interoperability that prevent them from taking full advantage of the pros. Some of the challenges of healthcare data interoperability include the following:
Lack of Coordination and Standardization
Although HL7 and Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources standards are utilized, the lack of interoperability often stems from opposition to change. To tackle this, organizations need to take a proactive stance, providing education and training. Authorities like the National Coordinator for Health Information are pushing for a nationwide interoperability roadmap to unify these efforts.
Budget Constraints and Legacy Systems
Healthcare organizations face financial challenges when attempting to update healthcare information systems, invest in interoperable solutions, purchase new hardware and software, integrate new tools with existing ones, train staff on how to use them and maintain and upgrade the relevant interoperability systems. To address this, they can use HIT or low-code solutions unifying data. Improving interoperability requires a dedicated interoperability strategy that balances the next level of interoperability goals with current budget realities.
Security and Privacy of Telehealth Solutions
The security of patient data is a major concern for healthcare providers. Data must be shared between systems to gain a full view of the patient, which increases the risk of data theft, hacking, and cyberattacks. To keep health information secure and in compliance with HIPAA and GDPR, healthcare organizations must implement strong encryption. This ensures that as we move toward interoperability, we do not compromise the privacy of the data.
How to Achieve Interoperability with a Reliable Tech Partner
Healthcare data interoperability serves many purposes and audiences. Taking proactive steps to enable interoperability leads to better health outcomes. Here are some effective strategies for the future of healthcare.
Leverage Cloud Solutions
Cloud-based services have the potential to reduce the amount of data stored in silos. These solutions provide scalability, flexibility, and ease of use, making storing large quantities of structured and unstructured information possible. Cloud technology simplifies access to data, allowing stakeholders to acquire the information they need to improve patient care.
Healthcare institutions should choose a cloud provider that offers FHIR services to ensure states core data for interoperability is consistent. A reliable partner will also help you resolve the key challenges of cloud data management in the clinical environment.
Implement a Well-Planned Approach
For successful healthcare interoperability, being aware of stakeholders’ data needs and expectations is vital. That requires a thorough product discovery, which involves identifying the organization’s goals, any data collection and exchange disparities, and an appropriate understanding of the various data types and protocols. Through this knowledge, healthcare organizations can apply interoperability solutions that enable instantaneous data transfer and use point-to-point connections for successful information sharing.
Use Standardized Terminology for Documentation
For healthcare operations to run smoothly, it is crucial to have consistent messaging, structure, content, and format. A unified language like The Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine – Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) for semantic interoperability ensures that data is interpreted accurately by any care provider. By coding clinical information, you can share and use data for collaborative purposes, leading to progress in healthcare through information analysis.
Partner with a Reliable Development Company
Working with a trusted information technology vendor is essential to make interoperability a reality. That ensures the data is protected and the software can withstand the demands of the healthcare industry. An experienced partner can guarantee that the system is designed and tested correctly, meets all the security requirements, and complies with industry standards.
A competent vendor can provide critical support for the interoperability roadmap and monitor the system for reliability. With SPsoft as a partner, you obtain a cost-effective solution for healthcare interoperability that satisfies all the requirements without sacrificing quality.
Final Thoughts: Achieving Interoperability in Healthcare
Interoperability is crucial to the digital health landscape, and healthcare providers must understand its importance. They can ensure secure and efficient data exchange by learning about the different standards and technologies available and investing in the necessary infrastructure and systems. That will result in better patient care, increased efficiency, cost savings, and improved data accuracy. Fortunately, with a leading healthcare software development partner like SPsoft, your project is destined to succeed.
Are you considering future-proofing your healthcare operations? Message SPsoft’s experts to receive a comprehensive interoperability audit and discover how we can help you achieve the next level of interoperability for your organization!
FAQ
What is the simple definition of healthcare interoperability?
Healthcare interoperability refers to the ability of healthcare information systems, devices, and software applications to communicate and exchange healthcare data in a way that the meaning of the information is preserved. It allows a care provider in one facility to access a patient’s electronic health record from another facility without losing accuracy. Achieving a high level of interoperability is vital for creating a cohesive health system where patient care is coordinated and health information flows seamlessly between healthcare providers and patients.
What are the four levels of interoperability in healthcare?
The four levels of healthcare interoperability include foundational interoperability, structural interoperability, semantic interoperability, and organizational interoperability. Foundational level allows for data exchange but not interpretation. Structural level defines the syntax and format of the health data. Semantic interoperability ensures that the receiving system can actually use the information by understanding its clinical context. Finally, the highest level (organizational) deals with the policies and governance enabling healthcare organizations to collaborate effectively across the US healthcare landscape and beyond.
Why is semantic interoperability so important for patient safety?
Semantic interoperability is critical because it ensures that when medical information is shared, it is interpreted correctly by the receiving healthcare provider. For example, if a lab result is sent from a specialist to a primary care doctor, semantic interoperability ensures that the units and reference ranges are understood perfectly, preventing medical errors. Without this level of interoperability, there is a risk of data misinterpretation, which can lead to incorrect diagnoses or dangerous treatment decisions, ultimately hindering efforts to improve patient health.
How does the FHIR standard support healthcare interoperability?
FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) is an interoperability standard developed by HL7 that uses modern web technologies (like RESTful APIs) to make healthcare data sharing easier and faster. Unlike older standards, FHIR allows healthcare organizations to exchange discrete pieces of health information, such as a single medication or allergy record, rather than entire documents. This flexibility transforms healthcare with real-time data interoperability between mobile apps, cloud platforms, and traditional electronic health records systems.
What role does the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) play?
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is the federal entity responsible for leading the nationwide interoperability effort. Through the Coordinator for Health Information Technology, the ONC sets interoperability rules and standards healthcare organizations need to follow to ensure interoperable healthcare. Besides, they manage the interoperability roadmap and the core data for interoperability requirements. That aims to improve healthcare by ensuring that health information is accessible to patients and providers whenever and wherever it is needed.
What are the biggest barriers to interoperability today?
The primary barriers to interoperability include budget constraints, the use of legacy systems, and a lack of coordination between different healthcare vendors. Additionally, concerns over data security and privacy can sometimes slow down the adoption of interoperability solutions. Many healthcare organizations also face technical challenges of healthcare interoperability, such as data quality issues and the lack of a highest level of interoperability in governance. Overcoming these hurdles requires a proactive approach and investment in modern information technology that supports data standards.
How can cloud computing help achieve true interoperability?
Cloud computing provides a scalable and flexible infrastructure needed to store and process the large quantities of healthcare information generated by modern systems. By moving data to a cloud platform, healthcare organizations can break down the silos of on-premise healthcare IT systems. Cloud-based interoperability solutions also make it easier to implement HL7 and FHIR standards, allowing medical organizations to achieve nationwide interoperability and providing a more unified view of the patient care journey.
What is the future of healthcare interoperability?
The future of healthcare will be defined by a next level of interoperability incorporating artificial intelligence and real-time data flow from IoT devices. The interoperability and access rules will be more mature, ensuring that patient data follows the individual seamlessly. Thus, we will see more nationwide interoperability projects that focus on semantic interoperability to support precision medicine and population health initiatives. That will make the healthcare ecosystem more efficient and patient-centered than ever before.
