With hospitals across the nation straining to meet meaningful use deadlines, the issue of interoperability is one of the puzzle pieces remaining to be put in place. In fact, some might argue the piece hasn’t largely even been designed yet. For best patient outcomes, this component of electronic health records is key to ensuring the right information is available at the right time for patients across the nation.
Why Interoperability?
Stage 2 of meaningful use is largely about data interoperability. This means that electronic health records are to be flowing securely between sites so an individual’s records could ideally be shared between all the hospitals and doctors that serve that individual. This can create better, more informed medical care, improving patient outcomes and helping insure vital information doesn’t slip through the cracks.
What’s the Problem with Interoperability?
In the ideal, there is absolutely no problem. If flowing smoothly and kept secure, there would be no cause for concern. However, the ideal is far from reality. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, only 25 hospitals and 1,277 medical professionals nationwide had attained Stage 2 of meaningful use by August. It seems interoperability is significantly lagging.
What is the Messiest Part?
There has been a scuffing of feet regarding how to best approach interoperability. Lawmakers and health IT have yet to agree on the best approaches to making interoperability work most effectively.
Silicon Valley has had ideas for using an API approach, which Washington could take, but nothing has been decided and the approach to making interoperability work seems a bit like murky water at this point.
Northwind Pharmaceuticals is committed to making patient pharmaceutical information integral and seamless in your organization. Contact us today to learn how our solutions can increase your interoperability.
