Since quite some time ago, the concept of interoperability has been widely discussed in the field of healthcare. It is a term that describes the capacity of various healthcare systems and providers to interact with one another and exchange information with one another. This is crucial because it guarantees that physicians have access to the information, they need to offer the best possible care to their patients. This in turn ensures that patients get the best possible treatment.
While there are now a number of health groups attempting to promote interoperability, there is still a significant distance to go. According to the results of a recent poll, 94% of doctors believe that greater connectivity may improve patient outcomes, and 91% believe that it can improve the physician experience. Unfortunately, the data from a patient’s record is often moved from one system to another in the form of enormous, bulky files, which may make it challenging for physicians to browse. Because of this, one could experience irritation and perhaps make blunders.
You might also like to read: Key Considerations When Making Healthcare IT Purchasing Decisions
This is where information technology has a significant opportunity to contribute to the improvement of interoperability. athenahealth CEO Bob Segert shared some of his ideas on the ways in which technology might be of assistance at a preview of the Perspectives from the Top event at HIMSS23.
The idea of “intuitive interoperability” was one of the fundamental ideas that Segert explored. This is a reference to the concept that interoperability should include more than just complying with rules imposed by the government. Instead, the emphasis should be placed on making it simpler for physicians to locate the information that they want in a manner that is both time and resource efficient.
You might also like to read: Exploring the potential of generative AI in drug discovery and development
For instance, doctors should be able to swiftly filter patient data in order to get the pertinent information they want as they travel from one patient to the next. This indicates that the information must be given in a manner that is simple, straightforward, and straightforward to comprehend. It also indicates that the material must be curated in a manner that is relevant to the physician’s requirements and helpful to the doctor.
In order to accomplish this goal, healthcare companies will need to collaborate in order to determine which types of information are most valuable to clinicians. After that, this data should be entered into the patient’s electronic health record in a manner that is simple to both access and make use of. To accomplish this goal, it will be necessary for healthcare providers, Technology companies, and government regulators to work together.
You might also like to read: The importance of data security and privacy in healthcare IT and patient experience
However, Segert underlined that interoperability refers to more than simply the data contained in flat files. There is a significant amount of supplementary data, such as socioeconomic determinants of health, that is not presently being shared with physicians, despite the fact that this data may be of great use to them. In order for healthcare organizations to be successful, they need to go farther than the bare minimum standards outlined by government rules and investigate the means by which they might communicate extra data with doctors that may be of help to them.
It is essential for the future of healthcare that interoperability issues be resolved. We are able to guarantee that patients will get the highest level of care possible by making it feasible for various systems and providers to connect with one another. Nevertheless, in order to accomplish this goal, all of the many players in the healthcare ecosystem will need to work together. It is imperative that clinicians, healthcare organizations, information technology companies, and government regulators collaborate in order to make interoperability a reality.
During the HIMSS23 conference, Segert and a number of other prominent figures in the healthcare industry will discuss the steps that should be taken to enhance interoperability. They will also support the participants’ exchange of ideas and address any queries the attendees may have. This is an important discussion that has to take place if we are going to be successful in creating a healthcare ecosystem that is completely integrated.
To summarize, interoperability is about more than merely complying with the rules set down by the government. It is about making it simpler for physicians to locate the information they need so that they can give the highest level of care to their patients as is humanly feasible. To accomplish this goal, it will be necessary for healthcare providers, Technology companies, and government regulators to work together. By collaboration, we will be able to guarantee that patients will get the very best treatment and that professionals will be able to do their duties in a manner that is both more efficient and effective.