Healthcare IT Today: Interoperability

Health information has always been difficult to get and exchange in a secure manner. The aspect of health data creates a conundrum. it's tough to share because it's confidential and requires a high standard of security, but not being able to access it when it's needed could have serious consequences. Interoperability in healthcare pertains to the prompt and safe access, incorporation, and use of EHRs data to improve individuals and communities' healthcare outcomes. Inadequate awareness of an individual's or population's healthcare needs will result in lower outcomes and increased expenditures due to the lack of interoperability. Organizations would be able to cease referring to people as patients one day, health plan members the next, and healthcare users the next if there was more data interoperability. Instead, decision-makers across the sector would be prepared to commence examining how individuals have access to and use health data, independent of its source, in order to facilitate positive care models, improving patient satisfaction, and improve the perceptions of those they represent.