What is Interoperability? It is the ability of software and hardware on different machines from different vendors to share data.
In health care, interoperability is the ability to exchange clinical patient data between providers and systems to achieve continuity of care, and to be able to use the data once it has been exchanged.
The Center for Information Technology Leadership describes four different levels of data structuring at which health care data exchange can take place. While it can be achieved at any level, each has different technical requirements and offers different potential for benefits realization.
We will use these descriptions to illustrate how interoperability varies with each product.
Four Levels of Interoperability in EHR Systems
Level 1: Nonelectronic Data
Information Technology is Not Used to Share Information at This Level
Examples
Paper
Mail
Telephone Calls
This is the Equivalence of Paper Based Charts
Level 2: Machine Transportable Data
Image Capture is the Primary Source to Gather Data at This Level
Examples
Fax
Email
Scanners
Limits Users To Only Search By
File Names
Manually Catalogued Data
Users Cannot Search Within an Image file
An Image Based System is the Least Practical Solution
A continuum of value exists with interoperability: every increase in level sees a corresponding increase in realized benefits. This occurs because significant quality and efficiency benefits can be realized when computers can “understand” the meaning of exchanged data and can suggest safe and efficient practices.
At Level 3 and lower interoperability, the data can be used by humans, but for the most part cannot be used by machines for automated decision support, active guidance, and pattern analysis. As a result, opportunities for error and cost reduction based on computerized suggestions are substantially less.
Relationship to Health Care Standards
Systems that offer Level 4 Interoperability are the key to achieving the benefits of a national healthcare information system and preventing higher costs or further fragmentation.
GeniusDoc EHR:
Produces Complete Longitudinal Patient Health Records
Codifies All Information with the Widely Used ICD-9, CPT, and DICOM Reference Terminologies
Doctor Notes
Laboratory Results
Drug Prescription Data
Provides an Excellent Foundation for the Exchange of Detailed Clinical Information between Different Systems
Providers can best protect and secure their IT investment today, by adopting a system like GeniusDoc that is built around widely used terminologies, offering TRUE Interoperability.
