Informatics Specialty
Informatics Specialty Area and Interoperability
Grand Canyon University: HIM-515 Foundations and Concepts of Healthcare Informatics
June 20, 2012
Informatics Specialty Area and Interoperability As the implementation of electronic health records (EHR) progress nationwide, the concepts of interoperability and health information exchange (HIE) must be discussed. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (2005, p. 2) define interoperability as “the ability of health information systems to work together within and across organizational boundaries in order to advance the effective delivery of healthcare for individuals and communities.” Interoperability is the enabling of two systems, including those that do not share the same interfaces or functionalities, to share and exchange data. HIE is the actual process of the exchange of health data. Through the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) created the State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program, in which incentives are provided for HIE on a state level, across the United States. In this paper, the authors will describe interoperability within all groups (public, clinical, ancillary, software/medical device vendors and other health care informatics groups), discuss the potential benefits from exchanging information, outline the risks of exchanging data with partners, and describe a marketing approach that would encourage healthcare vendors to exchange data.
Interoperability across the Continuum of Care
Healthcare interoperability is a fundamental requirement in the exchange of healthcare data between systems. Healthcare interoperability includes data exchange, infrastructure interoperability, user interface interoperability and process interoperability (Glaser, 2011). Healthcare providers need to have the ability to share medical records, prescription
Grand Canyon University: HIM-515 Foundations and Concepts of Healthcare Informatics
June 20, 2012
Informatics Specialty Area and Interoperability As the implementation of electronic health records (EHR) progress nationwide, the concepts of interoperability and health information exchange (HIE) must be discussed. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (2005, p. 2) define interoperability as “the ability of health information systems to work together within and across organizational boundaries in order to advance the effective delivery of healthcare for individuals and communities.” Interoperability is the enabling of two systems, including those that do not share the same interfaces or functionalities, to share and exchange data. HIE is the actual process of the exchange of health data. Through the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) created the State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program, in which incentives are provided for HIE on a state level, across the United States. In this paper, the authors will describe interoperability within all groups (public, clinical, ancillary, software/medical device vendors and other health care informatics groups), discuss the potential benefits from exchanging information, outline the risks of exchanging data with partners, and describe a marketing approach that would encourage healthcare vendors to exchange data.
Interoperability across the Continuum of Care
Healthcare interoperability is a fundamental requirement in the exchange of healthcare data between systems. Healthcare interoperability includes data exchange, infrastructure interoperability, user interface interoperability and process interoperability (Glaser, 2011). Healthcare providers need to have the ability to share medical records, prescription
References: Health Information Management Systems and Society. (2005). Interoperability definition and background. Retrieved from www.himss.org/asp/ContentRedirector.asp?ContentID=65063 Rosser, W Glaser, J. (2011) Interoperability: The Key to Breaking Down Information Silos in Health Care. hfm (Healthcare Financial Management) (0735-0732) 2011 Nov. Vol.65,Iss.11;p.44-6, 48, 50 Brailer, D. (2005) Interoperability: The Key to the Future Healthcare System. Retrieved from http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/early/2005/01/19 Benefits and Risk of Health Information Exchange. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.ehealthconnecticut.org/LinkClick.aspx Dolan, Pamela McGee, Marianne. (2011). HIE vendor market poised for shake up. Retrieved from http://www.informationweek.com/news/health Nelson, Rosemarie