What Is Interoperability, and Why Is it Important?
The world is shrinking as more people connect with one another via networked computerised systems. Improved connections shorten reaction times because people can communicate more easily, but there are also benefits as different software and computer systems connect with one another for automated data sharing.
With so many complex systems being networked together, interoperability should be on the minds of people working in all industries, including healthcare.
Interoperability refers to the fundamental ability of computerised systems to easily connect and communicate with one another, even if they were developed by widely disparate manufacturers in disparate industries. The ability to exchange data between applications, databases, and other computer systems is critical in today's economy.
“Interoperability describes the extent to which systems and devices can exchange data and interpret that shared data,” according to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). To be interoperable, two systems must be able to exchange data and then present that data in a way that a user can understand.”
Interoperability in the healthcare industry refers to the ability of disparate computer and software systems to exchange and share data from a variety of vital sources, such as laboratories, clinics, pharmacies, hospitals, and medical practises.
Consider a family doctor who refers a patient to a radiology practise to treat a complex fracture. Even if the two practises use different software systems internally, the physician can send the patient's records to the radiologist, and the radiologist's team can quickly send over the imaging department's results.
The United States contributes to healthcare interoperability by developing standards for how computer systems communicate and promoting specific standardised terms to describe the systems and their connections. The government also develops protocols for data networking, email transmission, and improving other security and encryption schemes to protect confidential and sensitive patient information.
When you become acquainted with the three levels of health IT interoperability and learn more about the significance of this enhanced connectivity, you will gain a better understanding of interoperability in healthcare.
Interoperability is a term used to describe the ability of two or more systems to
In 2013, the HIMSS board of directors established definitions for three levels of health information technology interoperability:
Interoperability on a Basic Level
Fundamental interoperability allows one information system to exchange data with another. This information does not need to be interpreted by the system that receives it. It will be available for use right away.
Interoperability of Structures
Structured interoperability defines the format of data exchange at an intermediate level. This is related to standards that govern the format of messages sent from one system to another, ensuring that the operational or clinical purpose of the information is obvious and passes through without modification.
We're talking about information at the data field level, as in a patient record database.
Interoperability in Semantics
The highest level of interoperability is semantic interoperability. Information can be easily exchanged and used between two or more different systems or parts of systems. In this case, the structure of the data exchange and how the data itself is codified allows medical providers to share patient data even when using completely different EHR software solutions from different vendors.
It has implications not only for health-care provider collaboration, but also for researchers and scientists who require large amounts of aggregated data to conduct studies on emerging diseases and other public health issues.
What Is the Importance of Interoperability?
According to a report from the Electronic Health Reporter quoting Information Advantage Group CEO Jim Bloedau,People asked Why Is Interoperability Important In Healthcare IT it is useful to think of interoperability as a philosophy rather than just a “standards-based interaction between computer systems.” Interoperability, on the technical side, helps reduce the time it takes to have useful conversations between providers as well as between doctors and their patients.
Because more time can be spent on the details of the illness or injury as medical professionals devise a treatment plan, this leads to increased patient engagement and better outcomes.
Interoperability in health care results in easier access to things like details in patients' electronic health records, but it will only work if various medical software vendors agree to share what is often proprietary system information, according to a SearchHealthIT report. Furthermore, stakeholders in medical practises and other healthcare organisations must be willing to share patient information over networks so that different databases can access it.
Increased Productivity
The goal of interoperability in healthcare is to increase efficiency. When data is presented consistently, regardless of source, practitioners can quickly get to the heart of the matter when making treatment decisions.