Source: Health Data Management
Interoperability has long been understood to be an important deliverable of digital technology in healthcare. Even so, it’s been one of the most difficult capabilities to delivery. Because the easy exchange of information is critical to bring efficiency to healthcare and to improve patient care, it has become a key focus for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Part of the push comes from the ONC’s charge in the 21st Century Cures Act to use regulatory muscle to prevent information blocking, which interrupts access to patient information – either by patients themselves or healthcare organizations. Meanwhile, the agency is pursuing a standardized approach to formal information exchange through the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement.