The Role of Interoperability in Custom EHR Systems
As of 2021, the percentage of office-based physicians used any electronic health records system was 88.2%. This alone stat can give you an idea about the impact healthcare software systems have on modern day healthcare delivery.
Ever since 2021, this number has been constantly increasing but there has been a unique trend on the rise, which is the increasing demand in EHR development.
But the question is, why are healthcare practices inclining towards customized healthcare IT solutions?
Well, you see, every healthcare practice has different needs and requirements. Since these practices allow the healthcare technology provider to choose, there is no uniformity in the formats and standards being used in these healthcare IT solutions. This led to the formation of data silos as well as the lack of interoperability.
Both of these healthcare data exchange challenges can disrupt the care delivery process with near to no coordination in care delivery. That is why interoperability in healthcare and especially in custom EHR systems is held at utmost priority.
Having said that, implementing an interoperable custom EHR system is easier said than done. On that note, let’s explore the impact of interoperability on custom EHR and how it can enhance the care delivery process with effectiveness and efficiency.
So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Understanding Interoperability
Before getting into the intricacies of EHR interoperability, let’s first understand what exactly is interoperability. Well, in a nutshell, interoperability is the ability of a healthcare software system to seamlessly exchange data and information with disparate healthcare software systems and make use of that information.
Though it sounds simple on the surface, the process is actually more complicated. So, here are the types of interoperability in healthcare that you consider for your custom EHR systems.
1. Foundational or Functional: This is the most basic level of interoperability, where systems can simply exchange data but the receiving system may not understand the data that is being shared.
2. Technical: This type of interoperability refers to the ability of different technologies used in the system to work together to share and make use of the data. This involves the system working together as one where hardware, software and the networks work together to communicate effectively.
3. Semantic: This is the highest level of interoperability that a healthcare software system can achieve. In semantic interoperability, the systems can exchange data and understand the meaning of data without any resistance.
Now that you know some of the most commonly used types of interoperability, here are some of the benefits of interoperability.
1. Improved Patient Care: EHR interoperability encourages healthcare data exchange in real-time and facilitates seamless communication between patients and providers. This helps the entire care team to be on the same page and work towards the same goal, which is to improve patient health outcomes.
2. Enhanced Efficiency: One of the major benefits of an interoperable custom EHR system is that it facilitates real-time data exchange and seamless communication. This, coupled with automation, shifts the focus from documentation to patient care, directly contributing to improving the overall efficiency of the practice.
3. Reduced Costs: With seamless communication and data integration, EHR interoperability enables timely care delivery and eliminates the need for unnecessary travel, etc. This reduces unnecessary hospitalization, etc., helping healthcare practices save significantly on resources and patient care.
Discover how interoperable custom EHRs can break down barriers and improve outcomes
Download our free guide!Interoperability Standards
In order for your custom EHR system to achieve interoperability, there are certain standards that your system needs to follow. To give you a brief idea about these standards, here are the most commonly used interoperability standards:
HL7 Standards
Health Level Seven, also known as HL7, is the international healthcare interoperability standard used for the transfer, integration, sharing, and receiving of electronic health information. Some of the most common healthcare interoperability standards used in HL7 are:
1. HL7 FHIR: This is a newer set of standards that is based on RESTful web services. It is designed in such a way that it feels more lightweight and easier to use than HL7 v2 and HL7 v3.
2. HL7 v2: HL7 v2 is the most widely used healthcare interoperability standard used in the world. It is a message-based standard and the genesis of information sharing is defined on the basis of structure and content of message that is being exchanged between the healthcare systems.
Struggling to connect your custom EHR with other systems? We can help! Explore our solutions for achieving true interoperability
Schedule a Meet NowOther Healthcare Interoperability Standards
Other than the HL7 interoperability standards, here are some other interoperability standards that you can use:
1. DICOM: DICOM stands for Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine, which is an interoperability standard used in medical imaging equipment to seamlessly share information with healthcare software systems. So, if you are an orthopedic healthcare practice or a healthcare practice which highly relies on medical imaging then using DICOM is highly recommended.
2. CDA: CDA stands for Clinical Document Architecture which again is a type of interoperability standard which allows healthcare systems to exchange clinical documents in a consistent and structured manner.
Importance of Adhering to Healthcare Interoperability Standards
Adhering to these healthcare interoperability standards is crucial for your healthcare practice as well as for your custom EHR systems. This is because it acts as a base for healthcare data exchange between the systems. Along with that, it also ensures that the data exchanged is accurate and consistent throughout the connected networks which plays a major role in improving the overall quality of care which is being delivered.
Integration with Healthcare IT Systems
Before achieving interoperability in healthcare software systems, you first need to integrate your custom EHR with disparate software systems. While there can be many software systems that you need to integrate with, here are some of the most common ones that help you provide your patients a complete virtual healthcare experience:
1. Laboratory Information Systems (LIS): As a healthcare practice, you need to highly depend on laboratories to derive test results. With seamless integration with the laboratory information system, you can automate the data transfer process and reconciliation, reducing the time to care delivery and improving the overall care delivery process.
2. Radiology Information System (RIS): Along with the medical test reports, X-rays, MRI scans, etc., also are necessary for diagnosis. By integrating your custom EHR system with a radiology system, you can easily view images and reports in real-time. This is crucial not only for smooth clinical workflow but also to reduce the turnaround time for care delivery.
3. Practice Management Systems (PMS): Consolidating patient data for billing information is important, and integrating your custom EHR systems with these practice management systems can streamline the administrative processes and set the entire virtual care delivery process in motion.
Data Sharing & Exchange
Interoperability in healthcare is the cornerstone of the modern-day healthcare landscape. While the EHR systems have become the epicenter of care delivery for healthcare practices, achieving interoperability for your custom EHR can facilitate data sharing and exchange between disparate healthcare systems for effective care delivery.
1. Health Information Exchanges (HIEs): Being a healthcare provider, there might be some cases that you encounter where you would need to take second opinions from other healthcare providers. In such cases, by implementing interoperable custom EHR, you can easily and securely share patient information across providers, which would, in fact, improve care coordination and patient outcomes effectively and efficiently.
2. Patient Portals: Empower your patients by giving them access to their health information from your customizable EHR. By holding this data as the point of reference, patients can proactively facilitate communication with healthcare providers and participate in decision-making, etc.
3. Data Analytics and Business Intelligence: Leverage the power of data to improve decision-making and identify unique trends and opportunities for improvement of care delivery. By integrating this into your custom EHR system, you can not only improve the quality of care but also instill better revenue management practices.
Future Trends & Challenges
Given that the technological and healthcare landscape is constantly changing, future trends and challenges are likely to change the ecosystem for interoperability in healthcare. On that note, here are some considerations that you must embrace and address:
1. AI and Machine Learning: AI and machine learning are some of the most trending technologies that many healthcare IT solutions are embracing. With AI and ML, you can use advanced data analytics to get deeper insights into practice and patient health. Furthermore, you can utilize it for automation to reduce the burden of data entry and even allow them to provide clinical decision support for providers in delivering care.
2. Blockchain Technology: While AI and machine learning can be used to reduce the burden of healthcare providers in care delivery, you can leverage blockchain technology to secure data sharing and promote interoperability in healthcare software systems. With blockchain technology, you will not only bring transparency to your operations but also embrace patient privacy with enhanced security.
3. Interoperability Challenges and Solutions: Challenges of interoperability in healthcare majorly include data quality and lack of data standardization. While these challenges can be overcome by adhering to best practices, you also need to identify and address the security and privacy concerns in the custom EHR systems.
Reduce costs, enhance data security, and gain a competitive edge with an interoperable EHR solution.
Talk to an expert!Conclusion
In conclusion, interoperability plays a pivotal role in custom Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems. Overcoming challenges in traditional EHRs, we’ve discussed how seamless data exchange and improved communication among healthcare providers enhance patient-centric care and continuity. Emphasizing key components and benefits, we underscore the importance of standardized data formats, Health Information Exchange integration, and compatibility with external systems.
As the future trends toward evolving standards, AI integration, and patient empowerment, the conclusion encourages healthcare organizations to prioritize interoperability in EHR development, fostering a more connected and informed healthcare ecosystem for improved outcomes and efficiency.
On that note, let’s start with first analyzing your healthcare software system and click here to get your first free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Interoperability refers to the ability of different systems or components to work together and exchange information seamlessly. Key types include:
- Semantic interoperability: Systems share a common understanding of data meaning.
- Syntactic interoperability: Systems can exchange data in a compatible format.
- Technical interoperability: Systems can connect and communicate using compatible technologies.
EHR interoperability refers to the ability of different electronic health record systems to securely exchange patient information with each other. This allows healthcare providers to access and share patient data seamlessly, regardless of where it’s stored or what system it’s in. This improves patient care by providing a complete view of a patient’s health history, reducing medical errors, and enhancing coordination among providers.
To ensure your custom EHR is interoperable, adhere to industry standards like FHIR or HL7, utilize open APIs (like REST or SOAP), and guarantee connectivity with other healthcare systems. This allows seamless data exchange and improves patient care.
Interoperability allows healthcare providers to seamlessly share patient information across different systems and organizations. This leads to improved care coordination, reduced medical errors, and better-informed decision-making. Patients benefit from more efficient and effective care, reduced duplication of tests, and a more holistic approach to their health.
Achieving interoperability in custom EHR systems is hindered by several challenges, including:
- Lack of standardized data formats and terminologies: Different EHR systems may use incompatible formats and terminologies, making it difficult to exchange data seamlessly.
- Vendor lock-in: Proprietary systems can limit data exchange with other platforms, hindering interoperability efforts.
- Integration complexities: Integrating diverse EHR systems with different architectures can be technically challenging and resource-intensive.
- Data privacy and security concerns: Sharing sensitive patient data across systems raises concerns about privacy and security, requiring robust safeguards.
Here are some best practices for ensuring data security and privacy in interoperable EHR systems:
- Implement strong access controls and encryption. This includes using robust authentication methods, restricting access to authorized personnel, and encrypting data both at rest and in transit.
- Adhere to data privacy regulations. Comply with relevant regulations such as HIPAA and GDPR to protect patient data.
- Ensure data integrity through regular audits and backups. Conduct regular security audits and maintain backups to prevent data loss and ensure data accuracy.
- Promote data minimization. Only share the necessary information to fulfill the purpose of data sharing, reducing the risk of exposure.
- Utilize secure data exchange standards. Employ standards like FHIR to facilitate secure and efficient data exchange between EHR systems.
Healthcare organizations can assess interoperability needs by analyzing data exchange requirements, identifying key stakeholders, and evaluating existing systems’ capabilities. Choosing the right custom EHR solution involves considering factors like scalability, security, vendor reputation, and alignment with organizational goals.
