Openly Exchanging Healthcare Data for More than a Decade

Interoperability is the ability of two or more systems, such as electronic health records (EHRs) and health information exchanges (HIEs), to exchange health information and use the information once it is received. Healthcare interoperability software is designed to create secure links between disparate systems. This process allows for the collection of data such as claims, justice, Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), patient reported and more, from either an EHR or non-EHR. Interoperability is crucial for making data contextually relevant, in order to drive workflows and efficiencies, coordinate care and improve outcomes.

EHR interoperability allows the secure transfer of data among EHR systems and healthcare providers. It simplifies workflows by giving clinicians fast access to information from within the system they use every day. The ultimate goal of EHR interoperability is to make accurate data available when it is needed by the people who are providing care.

Providers connect their EHRs across healthcare settings and systems with healthcare interoperability software because they understand the role EHR interoperability can play in coordinating care and improving outcomes. EHR interoperability gives clinicians a complete view of the individuals under their care, with easy access to lab results, notes from other providers, continuity of care documents (CDCs) and more. As a result, whole-person care across settings – primary care, behavioral health, acute care and post-acute care – becomes a reality. In addition, EHR interoperability improves data security by keeping individuals’ healthcare information within the EHR.

EHR interoperability supports information sharing across care settings, including primary and acute care, to give providers a complete longitudinal record for each individual. Clinicians can easily send HIPAA-compliant messages to discuss treatment and safely share data with everyone involved in an individual’s care. Making lab results, notes from other providers, continuity of care documents (CDCs) and assessments easily available during transitions of care helps avoid duplication of tests and ensure follow-up treatment and appointments take place.

Providers should look for a technology partner that develops interoperability into every aspect of its systems, starting with a single, unified platform that can support all service lines. The EHR should offer a range of integrated applications that include a single point of access that connects to the healthcare ecosystem, secure messaging and data exchange, support for referrals and more. Providers should also look for healthcare interoperability software that uses the latest data standards, including Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource (FHIR) to expand their options for data sharing.

EHR interoperability helps providers communicate clearly and securely with referral partners. EHR interoperability, along with supporting healthcare interoperability software, improves transitions of care by reducing redundant data entry and duplicate tests, and supporting medication reconciliation. As a result, providers can better manage shared-risk programs and report outcomes back to their referral sources.

FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources 1) is a vendor-agnostic technology standard that defines how healthcare information can be exchanged between different computer systems regardless of how data is stored. It takes an approach that is similar to the way information is presented and accessed on the internet: Data elements, or "resources," each have a tag that acts as a unique identifier, just like the URL of a web page. FHIR makes it easier for developers of healthcare interoperability software to create apps that work with a range of EHRs.

Historically, interoperability for healthcare has been largely based on the secure exchange of documents. This can be limiting in terms of data analytics, data-driven decision making and the finer points of care coordination. With FHIR, users can query a resource that can be a packet of information that stands on its own, or it can be bundled to create clinical documents – similar to Consolidated Clinical Document Architecture (C-CDA) – but with more options and flexibility. This flexibility means developers can create apps that can be plugged into the EHR system and feed information directly into the provider workflow.

Information blocking refers to practices, policies or actions that intentionally interfere with the access, exchange, or use of electronic health information (EHI) in healthcare. The concept of information blocking first came about in 2016 through the passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, which aimed to promote interoperability and the free flow of health information among different healthcare providers and systems.