The National Institute of Health describes interoperability as “‘The ability of two or more systems or components to exchange information and to use the information that has been exchanged.’”
Without interoperability, patients who need to see multiple specialists could face a disconnected and confusing experience. Interoperability helps prevent:
An American Medical Association report states that healthcare interoperability enables care coordination by allowing multiple healthcare providers to exchange and understand patient information in real time. This is particularly crucial for transient patient populations and those with multiple chronic conditions who interact with various providers. The system supports alternative payment arrangements and helps reduce overall healthcare costs by eliminating duplicate tests and procedures. Healthcare organizations can better participate in quality improvement initiatives while meeting their regulatory and public health reporting requirements through efficient data flow between different departments and systems.
Read also: How does email ensure interoperability?
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society guide on Interoperability in Healthcare outlines the four levels of interoperability:
According to Paul Kovalenk's article in Forbes, the core interoperability challenges include:
Many healthcare providers still rely on legacy systems that were never designed to communicate with one another. These outdated systems create “data silos,” making it difficult for information to be shared between departments within the same organization, let alone between different organizations.
Interoperability also raises concerns around data privacy and security. Healthcare data is among the most sensitive types of personal information, and breaches can have devastating consequences. The need to comply with regulations like HIPAA adds another layer of complexity to achieving interoperability, as data-sharing practices must be designed to safeguard patient privacy while still enabling efficient information exchange.
For smaller healthcare organizations, the cost of integrating new systems or updating legacy systems to meet modern interoperability standards can be staggering. These organizations often operate on tight budgets, meaning that other priorities—such as patient care—take precedence over costly IT overhauls.
Some solutions include:
Learn more: HIPAA compliant email
By eliminating redundant tests, reducing administrative inefficiencies, and improving care coordination, interoperability can help lower overall healthcare costs.
HIPAA regulates how patient data is shared, ensuring that interoperability solutions maintain strong privacy and security protections while enabling seamless data exchange.
Yes, interoperability allows emergency healthcare providers to quickly access a patient’s medical history, allergies, and prior treatments, leading to faster and more informed care.