Tag Archives: interoperability

Against the backdrop of a global health crisis, news that the U.S. federal government published its Final Rule on Interoperability likely went unnoticed to many delivery system leaders outside of healthcare IT. However, the federal mandate marks a very important milestone in U.S. patient health: mandating secure access, exchange, and use of electronic health information.

The promise of interoperability has the capability to reduce medical spend, improve care quality and user experiences, and develop stronger public health service. It means informed and empowered patients/members.

Virtual care delivery offers much more than social distancing and convenience; it allows organizations to “meet the patient where they are” and overcome barriers to care such as lack of transportation and rural isolation.

From a technology perspective, the evolution of COVID-19 has turned out to be a sort of proving ground for the concepts discussed in those January focus groups. Rather than being pushed to the back burner, efforts to achieve connected care through data optimization are ever more critical.

Comprehensive patient information is one of the top factors that impacts treatment for patients in government healthcare systems and programs. Incomplete and inaccurate profiles can lead to slow service, impede quality of care and waste resources.