What are the best ways to improve interoperability in healthcare?

Knowing how to improve interoperability in healthcare is more than a strategic advantage—it’s a necessity for enhancing patient care, reducing medical errors, and ensuring seamless communication among care teams and non-clinical staff.  

As the healthcare landscape evolves, a growing number of hospitals have taken significant steps, such as adopting standardized data exchange protocols and integrating advanced electronic health records (EHR) systems, to meet these needs. 

In 2021, over 60% of healthcare organizations—an increase of 51% since 2017—reported achieving some level of interoperability by actively engaging in key activities like sending, receiving, querying electronic health information (EHI), and integrating care summaries into their electronic health records (EHR).

Although this progress is encouraging, many hospitals that haven’t improved healthcare data interoperability are left vulnerable to significant communication barriers. If your organization is unsure where to begin on the path to seamless data interoperability, we can guide you through the necessary steps, from understanding regulatory requirements to choosing the right technology solutions. 

Create an interoperability task force 

With any emerging technology—such as artificial intelligence (AI)—achieving healthcare data interoperability requires a strategic approach. 

Experts recommend forming a multidisciplinary team comprised of IT specialists, clinical informaticists, data scientists, and healthcare providers to evaluate your organization’s current capabilities and pinpoint areas for improvement, like resolving data management challenges. 

This team should also assess various applications and platforms to ensure they aren’t only compatible with your existing systems but also support every level of interoperability, from data sharing to integration to analytics and decision-making. 

Leveraging AI and other advanced technologies can further enhance this process by automating data integration and providing insights through predictive analytics. 

Looking for inspiration to kickstart your efforts? Explore how VHC Health successfully addressed this challenge in our detailed case study. 

Develop an “implementation playbook”  

An “implementation playbook” is essential for achieving healthcare interoperability. Start by defining a comprehensive strategy that aligns with key priorities and adheres to HIPAA for data privacy and HL7 standards for structured data exchange. 

Your “implementation playbook” should clearly outline the expected value, specific requirements (such as technical capabilities, regulatory compliance, and financial considerations), and realistic timeframes for each phase of the process. 

This structured approach will allow you to regularly assess the effectiveness of your initiatives and gain valuable insights into your improved data interoperability, ultimately leading to more efficient operations, better care coordination, and enhanced patient outcomes. 

Consider comparing your “implementation playbook” with benchmarks set by the American Medical Association (AMA) and other healthcare thought leaders to ensure best practices. 

Invest in technology and staff training  

To achieve healthcare data interoperability, your hospital should invest time in identifying and researching technology solutions that align with your specific needs. For instance, your multidisciplinary team might recommend implementing a clinical alert system, such as Spok® Messenger, to enhance response times and improve care coordination.  

However, even the most advanced technology is only as effective as the people using it. To maximize the potential of these tools, it’s essential to invest in comprehensive staff training. Providing adequate training resources empowers employees to utilize technology correctly and efficiently, leading to seamless communication, better workflow integration, and ultimately improved patient outcomes. 

Gather feedback and plan for continuous improvement  

Understanding the employee experience and addressing any issues that arise are effective ways to improve interoperability in healthcare. If you’re not directly involved with the continuous exchange of information, you might not fully understand which aspects of your current workflows are effective and which are not. 

This documentation will help you make more informed decisions as interoperability continues to advance and evolve in the clinical landscape.  

The road to achieving interoperability in healthcare might seem daunting, but it’s a worthwhile investment for any hospital. By providing access to comprehensive, timely, and accurate information, interoperability benefits all stakeholders, from care teams to patients.