Interoperability in healthcare
Interoperability in healthcare refers to how information systems, devices, and applications access, exchange and cooperatively use data. Learn how seamless information flow among various healthcare organizations improves the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare delivery.
Top Stories
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19 Nov 2024
Digital Health Most Wired: Health IT budgets doubled in 2024
The 2024 Digital Health Most Wired survey revealed significant increases in health IT budgets, adoption of patient engagement tools and a stronger emphasis on cybersecurity. Continue Reading
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24 Oct 2024
Healthcare provider tips to avoid information blocking
Enforcement of the information blocking rule is underway, with a final rule from HHS and CMS outlining significant penalties for healthcare providers. Continue Reading
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20 Jun 2022
Paper-Based Dental Data Sharing Hampers Patient Safety, Outcomes
An NIH-funded study will examine how community health information exchanges (HIEs) could support dental data sharing for patient safety. Continue Reading
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15 Jun 2022
APIs Need to Enhance Clinical Workflows, Improve Patient Care
To motivate patient and provider adoption, API-enabled apps should focus on improving clinical workflows and advancing patient care. Continue Reading
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13 Jun 2022
Affiliation Agreement with HEALTHeLINK Focuses on Health Disparities
The partnership between HEALTHeLINK and the Population Health Collaborative plans to build on HIE infrastructure that supports strategies to address health disparities of patients in Western New York. Continue Reading
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07 Jun 2022
EHR Integration Boosts Primary Care Clinician PDMP Query Rate
An EHR integration helped streamline access to a PDMP by removing the need for primary care clinicians to log into a separate web portal. Continue Reading
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03 Jun 2022
eHealth Exchange Reaches 1 Billion HIE Transactions Per Month
eHealth Exchange officials noted that the HIE intends to apply to become a TEFCA Qualified Health Information Network (QHIN). Continue Reading
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31 May 2022
Variation in LOINC Code Adoption Impedes Lab Data Interoperability
Medical centers vary in organizing, categorizing, and storing LIS catalog information, which hampers lab data interoperability and quality. Continue Reading
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25 May 2022
Biden 2023 Budget Proposes Advisory Opinions for Information Blocking
The proposed new budget will allow HHS to create an advisory opinion process and issue advisory opinions for information blocking practices. Continue Reading
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24 May 2022
DirectTrust Gains ANSI Approval for ADT Event Notifications Data Standard
The event notifications data standard aims to help healthcare organizations comply with the new CMS rule on ADT notifications. Continue Reading
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23 May 2022
How a National Patient ID Standard Could Boost Population Health
Patient ID Now coalition members noted that a national patient ID standard could enhance population health through improved patient matching. Continue Reading
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23 May 2022
Montana Governor Announces $20M Investment in State HIE
The state will allocate most of the funding to the continued development and implementation of the current HIE while also implementing new services. Continue Reading
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17 May 2022
The Sequoia Project Releases Draft QHIN Onboarding Procedures for TEFCA
The Sequoia Project has requested healthcare stakeholder feedback on draft QHIN procedures for TEFCA. Continue Reading
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16 May 2022
Referential Algorithms Boost Patient Matching Accuracy
Referential algorithms include additional health data sources to support patient matching by building a more complete profile of each patient. Continue Reading
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13 May 2022
What Providers Should Know About the ONC Interoperability Rule
Per the ONC interoperability rule, healthcare providers must share all electronic health information (EHI) by October 6, 2022. Continue Reading
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12 May 2022
STAR HIE Program Supports Public Health Agencies Throughout COVID-19
The STAR HIE program funded advancements that have driven interoperability, enhanced public health data capabilities, increased vaccination data sharing, and reduced reporting burden. Continue Reading
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12 May 2022
HIA Outlines Solutions to Boost Healthcare Interoperability, Data Exchange
HIA gave six recommendations to help improve healthcare interoperability and data exchange to enhance patient care delivery. Continue Reading
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09 May 2022
AMIA and HL7 Announce Healthcare Interoperability Partnership
Longtime partners AMIA and HL7 have announced a two-year collaboration to advance healthcare interoperability through data standards. Continue Reading
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06 May 2022
3 Use Cases for Health Data Interoperability in Patient-Centered Care
Care coordination, advance care planning, and even dental HIE are critical use cases for how health data interoperability can support patient-centered care delivery. Continue Reading
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05 May 2022
Cerner EHR Integration Boosts Access to COVID-19 Therapeutics
Cerner will directly integrate ASPR’s COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator site within its EHR so providers can check a drug’s availability and location when prescribing. Continue Reading
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04 May 2022
CHI Comments on ONC USCDI Proposed Version 3 Data Classes
CHI officials called on ONC to include average blood pressure (ABP) as a data element in USCDI v3 to help address hypertension nationwide. Continue Reading
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03 May 2022
HL7 Launches ONC FAST Accelerator to Boost FHIR Scalability
HL7 officials noted that the FAST Accelerator will help define a scalable approach to deploying FHIR across interoperability use cases. Continue Reading
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03 May 2022
DirectTrust Celebrates 10 Years of Healthcare Interoperability Initiatives
Nonprofit healthcare industry alliance DirectTrust acknowledged 14 individuals for their contributions to healthcare interoperability on its tenth anniversary. Continue Reading
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28 Apr 2022
Could Dentist Participation in HIE Unlock Patient-Centered Care?
A partnership in Colorado will look at how adding dentists into the state’s HIE, CORHIO, will support patient-centered care and value-based payment models. Continue Reading
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25 Apr 2022
NY HIEs Launch SMART on FHIR App to Enhance Interoperability
The SMART on FHIR application will allow providers to access HIE information directly within their workflows, improving interoperability and data access. Continue Reading
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25 Apr 2022
IHS Health IT Modernization Focuses on Interoperability Best Practices
Significant advances in health IT interoperability over the past few decades have prompted IHS to modernize its RPMS EHR platform. Continue Reading
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21 Apr 2022
Data Standards, Community Stewardship Key for SDOH Data Exchange
According to the Gravity Project, data standards adoption is a foundational element of SDOH data exchange across social services and healthcare providers. Continue Reading
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20 Apr 2022
EHNAC Releases Updates to Health IT Accreditation Programs for Public Review
The process for commenting on the updated health IT accreditation criteria is open through June 21, 2022. Continue Reading
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20 Apr 2022
Tripathi: 2022 Pivotal for Digital Health Transformation, Health IT
At the virtual ONC annual meeting on April 13, Tripathi discussed initiatives that are helping to push the digital health transformation forward. Continue Reading
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19 Apr 2022
ONC LEAP Recipient Develops Framework for Patient EHR Data Consent
San Diego Health Connect created a framework for patient EHR data consent using HL7 FHIR-based application programming interfaces (APIs). Continue Reading
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12 Apr 2022
NAACOS Launches ACO Digital Quality Measurement Task Force
Digital quality measurement presents challenges for ACOs, as they must aggregate data from a range of providers that often do not use the same EHR system. Continue Reading
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06 Apr 2022
New Surescripts Health IT Features Set to Enhance Patient Matching
Health IT vendor Surescripts has released new patient matching features that officials say will help improve care management. Continue Reading
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06 Apr 2022
Epic EHR Integration Streamlines Patient Access to Cancer Screenings
Epic Systems will integrate Guardant Health tests within its EHR, expediting the test ordering process for clinicians and improving patient access to cancer screenings. Continue Reading
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01 Apr 2022
HHS Strategy Aims to Improve Patient Access to Health Information
The HHS Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2022-2026 focuses on improving payer, provider, and patient access to health information. Continue Reading
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29 Mar 2022
WEDI: ONC Health IT Certification Should Require ePA Data Exchange
In a letter responding to an ONC request for information, WEDI gave several recommendations on transitioning the industry to ePA data exchange. Continue Reading
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21 Mar 2022
InterSystems Unveils PaaS to Streamline Data Integration
In addition to streamlining data integration, the new PaaS aims to help healthcare organizations accelerate security and connectivity during cloud adoption. Continue Reading
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15 Mar 2022
Health IT Vendors Announce Interoperability Advancements at HIMSS22
Health IT vendors such as MEDITECH and Philips announced new interoperability solutions at the 2022 HIMSS Global Conference and Exhibition. Continue Reading
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15 Mar 2022
Surescripts Report Reveals 2021 Health IT Interoperability Gains
Surescripts 2021 National Progress Report revealed significant growth in the use of health IT to support healthcare interoperability. Continue Reading
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10 Mar 2022
Grants Slot COVID-19 Relief Funds for Community Health Data Sharing
A health IT initiative will grant organizations funding to align COVID relief planning to advance policies for health data sharing improving health equity within the community. Continue Reading
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08 Mar 2022
Cerner CEO Comments on Workflow Management, Interoperability
This week, Cerner CEO, David Feinberg MD, and Chief Medical Officer, Lu de Souza, MD, discussed workflow management, interoperability, and more at the ViVE 2022 healthcare conference in Miami. Continue Reading
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08 Mar 2022
How Health Data Standards Support Healthcare Interoperability
Adopting health data standards in a consistent and comprehensive manner will be key to enabling meaningful healthcare interoperability. Continue Reading
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07 Mar 2022
TEFCA Interoperability Framework to Enhance Health Data Exchange, Security
TEFCA will raise the bar for health data exchange and security, according to EHNAC CEO Lee Barrett. Continue Reading
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07 Mar 2022
Health IT Developers Take Strides Toward ONC Cures Update Criteria
Health IT developers must meet ONC Cures Update certification criteria for health data security and interoperability by December 31, 2022. Continue Reading
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04 Mar 2022
Health It Vendor Taps Carequality Framework, Patient Data Sharing
The Carequality interoperability framework enables patient data sharing nationwide, giving its partners access to patient information from over 600,000 providers and 4,200 hospitals to enhance care coordination. Continue Reading
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02 Mar 2022
Health IT Vendor, SSA Partner for Disability Claims EHR Interoperability
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has tapped health IT in efforts to enhance EHR interoperability for the disability claims process. Continue Reading
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02 Mar 2022
Cloud-Based Health IT Vendor Joins DirectTrust Interoperability Network
Cloud-based health IT vendor etherFAX has joined the DirectTrust interoperability network of roughly 291,000 healthcare organizations. Continue Reading
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01 Mar 2022
ONC: Most Information Blocking Claims Have Come from Patients
Patients have submitted more than half of all the potential information blocking claims since the ONC interoperability rule went into effect. Continue Reading
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01 Mar 2022
Sequoia Project Publishes Public Health Emergency Preparedness Guide
The Sequoia Project has put out an emergency preparedness whitepaper to help inform public health emergency response efforts. Continue Reading
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28 Feb 2022
AZ HIE Launches Website to Guide Advance Directives Registration
The Arizona HIE announced the launch of its new advance directives website, AZHDR.org, which aims to help support end-of-life (EOL) decision-making. Continue Reading
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25 Feb 2022
PA Health Information Exchange Grows Data Sharing Network
Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) joins over 55 healthcare organizations contributing data to Pennsylvania’s state health information exchange. Continue Reading
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23 Feb 2022
Tripathi: Cures Act Provisions to Transform Interoperability in 2022
The Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) is one of several Cures Act provisions set to drive interoperability in 2022. Continue Reading
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22 Feb 2022
Hospital APM Participation Not Linked to Interoperability Improvement
Researchers found that hospital alternative payment model (APM) participation did not impact interoperability engagement. Continue Reading
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21 Feb 2022
DirectTrust Announces 31% Increase in 2021 Direct Secure Messages
The number of consumers leveraging DirectTrust direct secure messages increased nearly 16 percent from 2020 to 2021. Continue Reading
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10 Feb 2022
NE HIE Integration Set to Better Population Health Management
A Nebraska HIE has partnered with a health IT vendor to improve patient care for high-risk patients through a population health management platform. Continue Reading
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08 Feb 2022
Potential Risks, Benefits of Patient Access to EHR Clinical Notes
Patient access to EHR clinical notes could improve malpractice liability risks through reduced medical errors and fewer diagnostic delays. Continue Reading
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01 Feb 2022
FHIR API Interoperability Relies on Standardized Endpoint Publication
ONC officials noted that FHIR API interoperability requires health IT developers to publish FHIR endpoints in a standardized format. Continue Reading
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01 Feb 2022
ONC Expects to Open TEFCA Interoperability Network Applications Q2
Officials projected that ONC will begin accepting QHIN applications for the TEFCA interoperability framework during Q2. Continue Reading
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31 Jan 2022
Health Data Exchange Alliance DirectTrust Calls for Director Nominees
DirectTrust’s board of directors helps guide the non-profit industry alliance’s health data exchange efforts through strategic governance. Continue Reading
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28 Jan 2022
ONC Calls for Inferno Beta-Testers of HL7 FHIR US Core IG 4.0.0
The Inferno testing suite will support beta testing for the HL7 FHIR US Core IG 4.0.0 beginning March 2022. Continue Reading
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26 Jan 2022
Health IT Firm Taps CommonWell Network, Health Equity Data Sharing
A health IT firm has connected to the CommonWell Health Alliance network to create a data sharing platform that aims to support health equity. Continue Reading
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26 Jan 2022
HEALTHeLINK HIE Sees Increase in Population Health Data Sharing
HEALTHeLINK, the HIE for Western New York, offers a population health tool that supports data sharing between participating providers and payers. Continue Reading
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20 Jan 2022
Greater Medical Device Data Standards Needed for Interoperability
Researchers called for the creation of a medical device data standards development organization to support healthcare interoperability. Continue Reading
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19 Jan 2022
ONC Releases US Core Data for Interoperability Draft Version 3
ONC added data classes to US Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Draft Version 3 that aim to advance public health reporting and health equity. Continue Reading
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18 Jan 2022
ONC Releases TEFCA Interoperability Framework for Data Exchange
The TEFCA interoperability framework is set to improve data exchange for enhanced provider access to patient health information. Continue Reading
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14 Jan 2022
How HIE EHR Data Can Measure Disease Trends, Support Public Health
Regenstrief researchers leveraged EHR data from a regional HIE to measure pediatric asthma trends across the state. Continue Reading
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13 Jan 2022
Poor Data Quality, Limited Interoperability Hamper Financial Outcomes
Improving data quality via a smart data fabric may help boost interoperability for enhanced financial outcomes. Continue Reading
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13 Jan 2022
Having the Same EHR Vendor Does Not Ensure Health IT Interoperability
While EHR implementations from the same vendor are more likely to support data exchange, limited data standards adoption impedes interoperability. Continue Reading
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11 Jan 2022
ONC Adds Public Health Reporting Specifications to Interoperability Guidance
ONC has added health IT specifications for ePrescribing and public health reporting to its Interoperability Standards Advisory (ISA) Reference Edition. Continue Reading
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06 Jan 2022
Infusion Org Taps CommonWell for Interoperability, Care Coordination
A home infusion therapy organization will connect to CommonWell’s interoperability network in attempts to enhance care coordination. Continue Reading
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05 Jan 2022
EHNAC Updates Interoperability Criteria, Health IT Standards
EHNAC, a health IT data standards accreditation organization, has released updated criteria for its programs to support new interoperability regulations. Continue Reading
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22 Dec 2021
UT Pilots Health IT for Social Services, Healthcare Interoperability
Dell Medical School at UT is piloting an ONC-funded health IT implementation that aims to support interoperability for social services referrals. Continue Reading
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21 Dec 2021
ONC Information Blocking Rule Compliance Relies on HIPAA-Defined Terms
ONC information blocking rule compliance is contingent upon a strong understanding of HIPAA-defined terms for patient health information. Continue Reading
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16 Dec 2021
Health IT Vendor Supports Interoperability Rule Compliance, Data Analytics
A health IT vendor is focusing on helping organizations comply with 21st Century Cures Act interoperability requirements and boost data analytics. Continue Reading
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14 Dec 2021
HL7 EHR Integration for Organ Donation Eases Clinician Burden
The organ donation EHR integration helped alleviate clinician burden by saving a health system 470 hours of nurses’ time over the course of 2020. Continue Reading
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09 Dec 2021
HL7 Celebrates 10 Years of FHIR Health IT Data Standard
As the health IT data standard matures, HL7 officials said that the organization plans to put out FHIR Release 5 in 2022. Continue Reading
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09 Dec 2021
MI HIE Appoints Officials to Help Guide Interoperability Efforts
As Michigan’s HIE works to support interoperability, its board of directors appointed three new members from the public and private sectors. Continue Reading
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02 Dec 2021
Zoom Announces Cerner EHR Integration for Telehealth Services
The EHR integration will support Cerner customers through streamlined telehealth workflows that are expected to enhance the patient experience. Continue Reading
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01 Dec 2021
MiHIN Health IT Partnership Tackles SDOH Referral Interoperability
Michigan’s HIE has partnered with two health IT vendors in efforts to improve social determinants of health (SDOH) referral interoperability. Continue Reading
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01 Dec 2021
PA Health Information Exchange Expands Patient Data Sharing Network
A healthcare organization of over 80 providers has joined a health information exchange serving the Philadelphia area for enhanced data sharing. Continue Reading
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29 Nov 2021
Identity Infrastructure Key for Interoperability, Health IT Security
As healthcare organizations comply with interoperability regulations, the adoption of an identity infrastructure can support health IT security. Continue Reading
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22 Nov 2021
Indiana HIE Announces Data Sharing Network Nearly Covers State
After large health systems joined the nonprofit HIE this year, the data sharing network now encompasses clinical data of 18 million patients. Continue Reading
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17 Nov 2021
2030 Interoperability Projections Emphasize Clinical Decision Support
Interoperability in 2030 should support the use of advanced health IT applications in conjunction with EHRs for enhanced clinical decision support, stakeholders told ONC. Continue Reading
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15 Nov 2021
Data Standards Key for EHR Documentation of Gender Minority Patients
A health system implemented SOGI EHR documentation protocols, but a lack of data standards limits the usability of SOGI data across the care continuum. Continue Reading
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15 Nov 2021
Why Healthcare Interoperability Must Meet the Needs of Data Recipients
Interoperability rules and regulations specify how providers should send information, but receiving actionable information is equally vital to patient care Continue Reading
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11 Nov 2021
CT Appoints Health IT Officer, Health Information Exchange Chair
As CT’s health IT officer, Sumit Sajnani will take the reigns as chair of the board of directors of Connie, the statewide health information exchange. Continue Reading
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09 Nov 2021
DirectTrust Names Health IT Stakeholders Leading Interoperability
The non-profit healthcare industry alliance has acknowledged industry stakeholders as interoperability heroes for their commitment to advancing health IT. Continue Reading
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02 Nov 2021
How Telehealth, RPM Interoperability with EHR Systems Boosts Care
When surveyed, providers noted that interoperability of telehealth solutions with EHR systems promotes better care and rapport with the patient. Continue Reading
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29 Oct 2021
How EHR Vendor Population Health Tools Support Care Coordination
A population health tool from EHR vendor athenahealth leverages data analytics to highlight care gaps and support care coordination. Continue Reading
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28 Oct 2021
Epic EHR Integration Supports Timely COVID-19 Treatment Delivery
An Epic EHR integration is helping a health system flag high-risk COVID-19 patients for a novel antibody treatment to optimize care outcomes. Continue Reading
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26 Oct 2021
HL7, SNOMED Renew Partnership for Global Health Data Exchange
The data standards groups said they will continue working together as new initiatives put an emphasis on international health data exchange. Continue Reading
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19 Oct 2021
Public Health Data Exchange, Health Equity Require Team Effort
Recent recommendations from a RWJF commission highlight the need for a public health data exchange infrastructure centered on health equity. Continue Reading
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18 Oct 2021
Joint HIE, FHIR Adoption Support Data Sharing for Veteran Care
DOD and VA FHIR adoption and a joint HIE have helped support data sharing for veteran care coordination, according to FEHRM director Bill Tinston. Continue Reading
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15 Oct 2021
Finances Stymie Patient Data Sharing, Interoperability at FQHCs
Safety net providers such as FQHCs do not have the funds to invest in EHR systems that support interoperability, which hampers patient data sharing. Continue Reading
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11 Oct 2021
ONC Launches USCDI Initiative to Improve Dataset Interoperability
ONC will aim to improve dataset interoperability and alignment standards and identify specific datasets for federal partners with the USCDI+ initiative. Continue Reading
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08 Oct 2021
Contexture HIEs Earn HITRUST Health IT Security Certification
The Denver- and Phoenix-based HIEs passed 19 health IT security assessment categories for HITRUST Common Security Framework (CSF) certification. Continue Reading
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06 Oct 2021
Using EHR Integrations to Understand Social Determinants of Health
A large Massachusetts community hospital has tapped a MEDITECH EHR integration to gather SDOH data analytics in efforts to improve health equity. Continue Reading
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06 Oct 2021
HIE Leverages Direct Secure Messaging to Boost Care Coordination
The Rochester RHIO HIE has leveraged direct secure messaging in efforts to enhance provider-to-provider communication and boost care coordination. Continue Reading
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30 Sep 2021
Health Information Exchange Group Prioritizes Interoperability
Collabrity Health’s new health information exchange consortium will focus on improving interoperability and patient access to data. Continue Reading
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29 Sep 2021
Cures Act EHI Definition Needs Clarification, Health IT Orgs Say
The definition of electronic health information in the Cures Act presents health IT compliance challenges, according to a new report. Continue Reading
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28 Sep 2021
Assessing the Future of Public Health Data Exchange, Interoperability
Micky Tripathi, PhD, MPP, ONC national coordinator for health IT noted that the ONC is working with CDC to improve public health data exchange. Continue Reading
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27 Sep 2021
ONC, CDC Envision Public Health IT Infrastructure of the Future
ONC and CDC are collaborating on various projects to enhance the public health IT infrastructure and standardize public health data exchange. Continue Reading
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24 Sep 2021
Poor EHR Training, System Defects Hamper DOD EHR Implementation
A new GAO report revealed unresolved system defects in the Department of Defense (DOD) EHR implementation, as well as insufficient EHR training. Continue Reading