Measuring and managing interoperability
Interoperability, or the lack thereof, seems to be the one challenge that can be counted on to impact virtually all aspects of health IT and its capability to advance. Not that people aren’t busy working to improve, measure and question interoperability.
For example, Doug Fridsma, chief scientist of the Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT recently discussed the need to incrementally make changes so “we can learn from each step. Our job is to enable others to achieve success and take an approach that allows for heterogeneity. It’s challenging because different organizations are in different stages of maturity in being able to exchange information.”
He also explained that the activities of the Federal Health Architecture (FHA) started right around the time ONC was established. When initially conceived, the FHA was thought of as an enterprise architecture activity. It’s now an interoperability architecture, Fridsma said, “so we don’t necessarily have to change what a particular agency does inside but focus on ways they might exchange between agencies.” Having several federal agencies focus together “has been an important aspect in keeping us connected to important agencies that are struggling to exchange information.”
Despite the numerous benefits of health information exchanges (HIEs), a survey of physicians found that 71 percent named the lack of interoperability between various EHR systems as a major barrier. The impact of an HIE depends a lot on the types of information the exchange allows to be shared.
Survey respondents also said it was important to get that information in a timely manner, with 80 percent saying a reasonable time frame would be either “immediately” or “within 24 hours,” when a patient is being treated for an urgent problem. With non-urgent issues, 70 percent said they would want information within three business days.
How are you working to achieve interoperability? Please share your experience.
Beth Walsh
Clinical Innovation + Technology editor
Editor
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.