2030 Interoperability Projections Emphasize Clinical Decision Support

By 2030, healthcare stakeholders expect interoperability to support a healthcare system where providers use best-in-class health IT applications in combination with EHRs for enhanced clinical decision support (CDS), according to ONC.

In May 2021, ONC launched Health Interoperability Outcomes 2030 to engage healthcare stakeholders and seek out achievable and measurable “Interoperability Outcome Statements” for 2030.

Officials analyzed over 700 submissions and created unique, synthesized statements that reflect the public's overall outlook regarding what healthcare delivery should look like in 2030 because of interoperability.

ONC divided the synthesized statements into two categories: individual and care delivery experiences; and health system experiences.

In terms of individual and care delivery experiences, healthcare stakeholders noted that interoperability in 2030 should provide patients with internet-based access to their past and present electronic health information from both clinical and administrative sources.

Healthcare officials also said that by 2030, they expect interoperability will ensure care teams have access to updated electronic patient health information prior to administering care for CDS. This will help make sure that individual patients do not have to gather and provide their health information themselves.

Stakeholders hope that individuals will have tools that give them control over how, with whom, and for what purposes their electronic health information is shared, as well.

Additionally, healthcare officials noted their optimism that interoperability will give individuals access to internet-based tools, apps, and other connected devices to track and share electronic health information with their providers about their health and lifestyle.

ONC also found that the industry is looking towards a future of interoperability where individuals and health professionals can compare the cost of a healthcare service, procedure, or drug online before it is ordered or prescribed.

Submissions emphasized the hope that interoperability will support at-home care delivery for a range of healthcare services, including chronic disease management. Lastly, respondents noted their aspiration that by 2030, individuals will no longer fill out paper forms for any healthcare encounter or process.

On the health system experiences side, respondents said that by 2030, they anticipate that interoperability will support the seamless integration of electronic data from inside and outside the healthcare system as part of clinician workflows.

Respondents said that the future of interoperability should support healthcare professionals in spending less time on administrative tasks and more time delivering patient care. 

Submissions also expressed the desire for health professionals to use best-in-class health IT applications in combination with EHRs for enhanced CDS by 2030.

Additionally, respondents said they want health professionals to be able to search for and access electronic health information within their workflow and have it presented in ways that meaningfully synthesize relevant data.

ONC found that stakeholders see interoperability automating public health, quality measurement, and safety reporting by 2030. Stakeholders also hope all referral and transition of care data will be electronic by the beginning of the next decade.

Respondents said that by 2030, interoperability should support public health response and preparedness through real-time data that allow public health agencies to quickly identify infectious disease outbreaks.

Submissions also emphasized the role interoperability will play in the pursuit of health equity. Respondents suggested that by 2030, the health system will enable evidence-based, precision care that accounts for social determinants of health. Stakeholders hope the health system will be able to identify high-risk conditions, chronic diseases, and health inequities more quickly.

Additionally, submissions highlighted the role interoperability will play in clinical research.

First, stakeholders noted that interoperability gains by 2030 should provide researchers with access to inclusive, representative datasets to compare the real-world performance of treatments, procedures, devices, and drugs.

Additionally, submissions emphasized the goal that researchers and health professionals will spend little to no time normalizing data for research and quality activities.

Lastly, healthcare officials said interoperability should reduce duplicate diagnostic tests and procedures, as well as eliminate preventable data-related safety events by 2030.