Working towards true interoperability in healthcare technology and infrastructure

In recent years, digital transformation in healthcare has accelerated, illuminating the need to adopt different care delivery models such as telehealth and hospital at home, and remote work for healthcare staff when appropriate. These newer care models and decentralized workspaces require mobile devices, laptops and patient wearables to connect quickly and securely to a healthcare organization’s network (HCO). Interoperability is the unifying foundational element to support the digital tools that enable hybrid patient care and distributed workforce models.

But without a sound IT infrastructure in place, HCOs’ networks, systems, platforms and applications can’t work together reliably and securely. HIMSS defines interoperability as “the ability of different information systems, devices or applications to connect, in a coordinated manner, within and across organizational boundaries to access, exchange and cooperatively use data amongst stakeholders, to optimize the health of individuals and populations.” 

Electronic health records are central to unlocking true interoperability. As primary sources of clinical data, their participation in health information exchanges is invaluable. In light of an evolving regulatory landscape, executives in the health records sector are re-evaluating their data exchange strategy — while actively seeking opportunities to score a competitive advantage.

While healthcare has made tremendous strides toward true interoperability, there’s still a long way to go. “Healthcare is a highly scattered and siloed domain,” explains  Frank Laarakker, Product Management Lead Interoperability Solutions, Philips. “The adoption of open interoperability standards is currently still nascent and limited. At a national level, and sometimes even at a regional level, interoperability standards and infrastructure are missing or, alternatively, investments are made in multiple infrastructures in a single country and are not able to be integrated.”

Practical interoperability applications and issues

With the rise of consumerism in healthcare, interoperability is crucial for supporting telemedicine options for care and online patient portals. An HCO’s digital health strategy should support communications channels such as talk, text, chat and video to meet patients’ preferences.

New modes of care delivery such as hospital-at-home are also driving interoperability. For hospital-at-home care to be successful, patients need optimal connectivity in their homes so that such technologies as remote patient monitoring (RPM) can be leveraged and near real-time decisions can be made for patient care.  Patients are becoming much more comfortable with telehealth and portal options. About 78% of people aged 50 to 80 now use at least one patient portal, according to the new University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging. The push for interoperability led to the creation of standards like Health Level Seven (HL7) and Fast Health Interoperability Resource (FHIR) that seek to improve data transmissions between disparate systems.

One key interoperability issue involves standardizing and enhancing records and electronic health record systems. By promoting data exchange and integration, interoperability in these systems can empower HCOs to leverage the full potential of digital health technologies, making it a vital part of digital health transformation. However, most hospitals still have at least ten EHR systems in place, further inhibiting seamless data sharing. 

Yet, it’s not so bleak as the roadblocks on the way to true interoperability may make it seem. Currently, 83% of HCO respondents use data from health information exchanges to inform patient care, according to the 2023 State of Interoperability report from Health Gorilla. Additionally, 91% were supportive of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA).  According to The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, “The Common Agreement will establish the infrastructure model and governing approach for users in different networks to securely share basic clinical information with each other — all under commonly agreed-to expectations and rules, and regardless of which network they happen to be in.”

Interoperability and the future

By continuing to break down data silos and adhering to standardized communication protocols, HCOs are moving towards efficient interoperability. As the pace of digital health innovation accelerates, the demand for access to data both inside and outside HCOs will continue to grow. With a scalable, flexible and reliable IT infrastructure, HCOs can leverage the full potential of their current digital tools and technology, foster further innovation and meet future consumer demands. A strong infrastructure partner that truly understands the healthcare industry can support HCOs along this digital transformation journey.

Interoperability helps clinicians deliver safe, effective, patient-centered care. It should also provide for secure and regulation-compliant ways for patients, individuals, caregivers, medical staff and insurance companies to access electronic health information to manage and coordinate care. Advancing interoperability has also become an essential part of most healthcare technology initiatives ranging from health equity to public health emergency response.

How Spectrum Enterprise can help

We understand that the enduring goal of healthcare professionals is to improve outcomes and clinical and patient experiences. We also understand that HCOs need to prioritize investments and efforts as they meet challenges and cost-effectively improve performance. 

We work with your healthcare organization to achieve your goals with a customized, scalable, technology infrastructure. Spectrum Enterprise can meet your HCO wherever it may be in its digital transformation efforts. We can partner and plan in a truly collaborative manner to help each organization achieve their specific desired state of interoperable infrastructure. Every day, we help healthcare entities upgrade components of their systems with compliant solutions, modernized network infrastructures — all the while also incorporating new security protocols and standards.For more than 10 years, we’ve partnered with 115,000+ healthcare organizations to provide technology and communication solutions. See how to drive efficient HCO interoperability, and find out why 8 out of the top 10 health systems in the US rely on Spectrum Enterprise for their technology solutions.