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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News
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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Feature
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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17 May 2021
Integrating a State Vaccine Scheduling System into the EHR
Keck Medicine of USC was one of the first health systems in California to integrate its state vaccine scheduling system into the EHR. Continue Reading
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13 May 2021
HIEs: Information Blocking Common for EHR Vendors, Not Health Orgs
EHR vendors were 25 percent more likely to participate in practices that entail information blocking compared to health systems, a survey found. Continue Reading
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12 May 2021
Ambiguous Information Blocking Regulations Worry Providers
Half of provider respondents are unsure whether the information blocking provisions would enhance interoperability. Continue Reading
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12 May 2021
Developing a COVID-19 Mortality Risk Tool for EHR Integration
Researchers leveraged numerous models in one month to create a mortality risk tool prepared for EHR integration. Continue Reading
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11 May 2021
ONC Awards MI HIE Funding to Fuel Patient Data Exchange
Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services will leverage ONC funding to improve patient data exchange between immunization information systems and the health information exchange. Continue Reading
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11 May 2021
DirectTrust Promotes Over 170M Direct Secure Messages in 2021 Q1
The health data exchange has streamlined over 2.3 billion direct secure messages since it started tracking the statistic in 2014. Continue Reading
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10 May 2021
The Interoperability Infrastructure Passed the COVID-19 Test
A digitized healthcare and interoperability infrastructure was put to the test during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue Reading
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05 May 2021
ONC Teases Retooling of Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap
ONC stuck to the interoperability roadmap for six years, but it is time to advance to the next level of health IT. Continue Reading
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04 May 2021
Most Health Information Exchanges in Strong Position for TEFCA
Fifty-six percent of local and statewide health information exchanges revealed plans to participate in TEFCA. Continue Reading
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03 May 2021
VA Seeks Vendor Feedback on Data-Driven EHR Integrations
VA is requesting information from vendors that can help the agency design, integrate, and support data-driven EHR integrations. Continue Reading
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30 Apr 2021
Best Practices for Integrating SDOH Data into the EHR
Health systems and health information exchanges across the country are trying to identify and integrate social determinants of health data, but it is not an easy task. Continue Reading
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29 Apr 2021
Integrated EHR Algorithm May Flag Chronic Kidney Disease
Providers are currently unable to diagnose chronic kidney disease in a timely manner, but an automated EHR algorithm could fix that common challenge. Continue Reading
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29 Apr 2021
ONC: Information Blocking Opens Doors for Interoperability
ONC’s Micky Tripathi led a recent information blocking event to give healthcare stakeholders his thoughts on the present and future of the information blocking regulations. Continue Reading
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27 Apr 2021
National Patient Identifier Coalition Launches Strategic Framework
The national patient identifier group wants the federal government to help boost patient matching, patient safety, and security. Continue Reading
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26 Apr 2021
AMA Publishes Physician Information Blocking Resource Center
The AMA published an online educational center to educate physicians on the recently published information blocking regulations. Continue Reading
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22 Apr 2021
ONC Leader Tripathi Offers Tips for Interoperability Rule Success
Health organizations must get used to identifying, integrating, and utilizing unstructured patient data before the next step of the ONC interoperability rule drops. Continue Reading
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21 Apr 2021
4 Ways Health IT, EHRs Can Advance Precision Medicine
The ONC is attempting to propel precision medicine through API utilization, EHR integration, policy development, and data standardization. Continue Reading
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21 Apr 2021
CT Health Information Exchange Adds First Integrated Delivery System
CTHealthLink added Connecticut Children’s and the Connecticut Children’s Care Network to its expanding list of provider connections. Continue Reading
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20 Apr 2021
COVID-19 Triggers Increase in ePrescribing, Interoperability Tools
Surescripts’ ePrescribing solution exceeded 1 million prescribers for the first time in its history. Continue Reading
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13 Apr 2021
Integrating a COVID-19 Discharge Pathway Tool into the EHR
The COVID-19 discharge process can be complex, but a Colorado-based health system integrated an EHR tool to improve patient care and mitigate clinician burnout. Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2021
Why is Genomic Data EHR Integration Important?
Genomic data testing is becoming more prevalent in medicine, making it even more important to enable it for EHR integration? Continue Reading
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06 Apr 2021
API Adoption Slow, Widespread FHIR Uptake Expected by 2024
Although API adoption is limited, survey respondents predicted widespread Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) API adoption by 2024. Continue Reading
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05 Apr 2021
Local Nonprofit HIE Ends Battle Against Oklahoma Statewide HIE
The Oklahoma State Health Information Exchange will officially move forward with a global vendor for its health IT support. Continue Reading
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02 Apr 2021
What to Look for in Application Programming Interfaces?
Interoperability, increased detail, accuracy, and timeliness are critical for application programming interface (API) developers and consumers. Continue Reading
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01 Apr 2021
CT to Implement Statewide Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
Following a $1.3 million grant from CMS, Connecticut pharmacies across the state will now be able to query its statewide prescription drug monitoring program. Continue Reading
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01 Apr 2021
NY Health Information Exchange Strives to Mitigate Childhood Obesity
A NY regional health information exchange developed a public health tool that focuses on childhood obesity and utilizes social determinants of health. Continue Reading
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30 Mar 2021
Tripathi: ONC Working to Boost Interoperability, COVID-19 Response
ONC head, Micky Tripathi, detailed a basic FHIR approach to COVID-19 vaccine scheduling during a virtual meeting on Monday. Continue Reading
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29 Mar 2021
Pew Calls for Electronic Case Reporting for Potential Pandemics
Three healthcare stakeholder groups said the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) could require electronic case reporting (eCR) through federal mandates to improve public health during and after COVID-19. Continue Reading
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29 Mar 2021
Digitizing Information Exchange to Reduce Physician Burnout
Improving health data exchange is crucial for independent practices to be stay in operation and be ready for what's ahead. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Mar 2021
Stages of Health Information Exchange Implementation
Providers and health IT professionals across the country are demanding health information exchange, but developing a sufficient infrastructure is challenging. Continue Reading
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25 Mar 2021
Major CA FQHC Connects to Nonprofit Health Information Exchange
The Southern California federal qualified health center (FQHC) provides low-and-no-cost healthcare to Los Angeles County’s underserved population. Continue Reading
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24 Mar 2021
How Health Information Exchange Facilitated COVID-19 Follow-Up
Clinicians at a New York-based VA medical facility utilized health information exchange alerts to facilitate COVID-19 symptom follow-up. Continue Reading
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19 Mar 2021
How HIEs Can Prepare Clients for the ONC Interoperability Rule
Health information exchanges (HIEs) will play a critical role in how providers will comply with the ONC Interoperability Rule. Continue Reading
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18 Mar 2021
HHS Awards Funding to Boost Patient Data Exchange in NY
Two regional health information exchanges in New York will leverage HHS funding to improve COVID-19 patient data exchange in their respective regions. Continue Reading
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18 Mar 2021
Using Health Information Exchange Data Boosts Quality Reporting
Health information exchange data integration impacted 19 percent of patients in 42 of the study’s 53 participating healthcare organizations. Continue Reading
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17 Mar 2021
How Regenstrief Institute Has Enhanced COVID-19 Reporting in Indiana
COVID-19 reporting has been a significant challenge across the country, but Regenstrief Institute had the ability to leverage a strong statewide health information exchange to mitigate this challenge. Continue Reading
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16 Mar 2021
How an EHR Suicide Risk Assessment Tool Can Streamline Workflows
The EHR suicide risk assessment tool recorded 129 attempts for 85 individuals at a major health system. Continue Reading
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16 Mar 2021
Clinical Decision Support Improves Patient Clinical Outcomes
Clinical decision support tools have a significant impact on both clinician performance and patient outcomes for many diseases. Continue Reading
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15 Mar 2021
Department of Defense Launches COVID-19 Vaccine EHR Solution
The Department of Defense’s COVID-19 vaccine EHR solution deployed at the largest Marine Corps base. Continue Reading
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15 Mar 2021
Clinicians Unlikely to Access Patient Genomic Data in the EHR
Researchers evaluated EHR access logs to learn clinicians only viewed 1 percent of patient genomic data. Continue Reading
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11 Mar 2021
HHS Awards HIE Funding to Boost Patient Data Exchange in Texas
Texas Health Services Authority and a regional health information exchange will utilize this funding to boost patient data exchange between immunization information systems and HIEs. Continue Reading
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08 Mar 2021
APIs Need Increased Standardization, Tools to Lift Data Research
The ONC final interoperability rule should trigger API utilization and standardization. Continue Reading
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08 Mar 2021
Team-Based Approach Key to Boost EHR Public Health Reporting
EHR systems have struggled to effectively manage public health reporting during COVID-19. Continue Reading
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04 Mar 2021
EHR Interoperability Continues to Climb in Acute Care Hospitals
Over half of acute care hospitals reported engagement in all four domains of EHR interoperability in 2019. Continue Reading
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03 Mar 2021
VA Health Information Exchange Implementation Barriers
Health IT leaders at US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Indiana’s statewide health information exchange pointed at training and sustainability as two key implementation hurdles. Continue Reading
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02 Mar 2021
3 Ways the Biden Admin, HHS Could Boost Patient Data Sharing
Effective and accurate patient data sharing could give a boost to public health organizations and decrease the spread of COVID-19. Continue Reading
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25 Feb 2021
USQHIN Launches ADT Network to Advance Interoperability Goals
The ADT network will combine health IT vendors, health information exchanges, health systems, payers, and government agencies to advance interoperability goals and public health use cases. Continue Reading
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24 Feb 2021
Orgs Push Digital Medicine, EHR Tool to Advance Digestive Health
Four major healthcare research facilities are teaming up to develop a digestive health toolkit using digital medicine to implement into the EHR. Continue Reading
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22 Feb 2021
How DirectTrust Managed Direct Secure Messaging During COVID-19
The health data exchange has facilitated over 2 billion Direct Secure Messages after a tumultuous, yet record-breaking, 2020. Continue Reading
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19 Feb 2021
What is an Immunization Information System, Why is it Important?
Forty-nine states have integrated an immunization information system into the EHR, which helps streamline patient immunization data during COVID-19 vaccination distribution. Continue Reading
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18 Feb 2021
AZ Health Information Exchange to Integrate SDOH Data Tool
Implementing an SDOH tool into Arizona’s statewide health information exchange will provide increased information about this data for its participants and boost interoperability. Continue Reading
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15 Feb 2021
Local Nonprofit HIE Appeals Oklahoma Statewide HIE Denial
The local nonprofit HIE has delivered an appeal to state officials after the Oklahoma statewide HIE denied its January protest. Continue Reading
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10 Feb 2021
ONC Adds 3 Key Updates to Interoperability Standards Advisory
The ONC Interoperability Standards Advisory will now include COVID-19 and public health emergency sections. Continue Reading
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10 Feb 2021
Florida Launches PULSE Platform for Emergency Patient Data Exchange
Add Florida to the list of states that will have an increase in emergency patient data exchange during natural disasters and public health emergencies. Continue Reading
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09 Feb 2021
Top Healthcare Orgs Launch Information Blocking Resource Center
A group of healthcare organizations published the Information Blocking Resource Center to educate stakeholders for the upcoming information blocking compliance dates. Continue Reading
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09 Feb 2021
NY HIE Hits Record Number of EHR Alerts, Patient Data Lookups
COVID-19 triggered a severe increase in EHR alerts and patient data lookups across Western New York healthcare organizations. Continue Reading
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08 Feb 2021
DirectTrust Streamlines 2B Direct Secure Messages Since 2014
The health data exchange has facilitated over 2 billion Direct Secure Messages after a record number of patient data exchange transactions in the 2020 fourth quarter. Continue Reading
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08 Feb 2021
Two Use Cases for Improving Outcomes with ADT Notifications: Part III
Learn how two large health systems realized better health outcomes by creating efficient ADT notifications. Continue Reading
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05 Feb 2021
Health Information Exchanges Form Consortium for Interoperability
A group of six major health information exchanges across the country have formed a consortium to increase interoperability and patient data exchange. Continue Reading
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02 Feb 2021
Texas HIE Develops Clinically Integrated Network to Boost Care
A Texas HIE partnered with a local independent physician group to develop a clinically integrated network to improve care and reduce costs in the region. Continue Reading
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29 Jan 2021
Nebraska Health Information Exchange Joins SDOH Data Group
The Nebraska statewide health information exchange got a social determinants of health (SDOH) data boost after joining the Gravity Project. Continue Reading
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28 Jan 2021
Oklahoma Statewide HIE Denies Protest from Local Nonprofit HIE
The Oklahoma statewide HIE will move forward with Orion Health after denying a less expensive bid from a local nonprofit HIE. Continue Reading
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25 Jan 2021
Adventist Signs Onto California HIE to Boost Patient Data Exchange
Manifest MedEx, California’s statewide health information exchange (HIE), added over 7 million patients to its robust network, giving a patient data exchange increase across the state. Continue Reading
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21 Jan 2021
Health Pros: Pragmatic Over Perfect for Increased Interoperability
Three healthcare professionals recommend a more pragmatic approach to functional interoperability, rather than chasing perfection. Continue Reading
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20 Jan 2021
Local Nonprofit HIE Files Protest Against Oklahoma Statewide HIE
MyHealth Access Network is filing a protest against the new Oklahoma statewide health information exchange (HIE) after it tapped a global health IT vendor for its infrastructure. Continue Reading
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19 Jan 2021
HHS to Award Funding to Boost Immunization Information Systems, HIEs
HHS will allocate upwards of $20 million in investments to increase patient data sharing between immunization information systems and health information exchanges (HIEs). Continue Reading
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19 Jan 2021
Skilled Nursing Facilities Lack Enhanced Patient Data Sharing
Skilled nursing facilities need more accurate and timely patient data sharing between hospitals and these facilities. Continue Reading
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14 Jan 2021
ONC Releases US Core Data for Interoperability Draft Version 2
Following recommendations from USCDI v1, ONC prioritized key data elements that are most relevant and broadly applicable to boost interoperability. Continue Reading
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13 Jan 2021
The Sequoia Project to Launch Emergency Preparedness Workgroup
The workgroup will gather emergency preparedness experts from health information exchanges across the country. Continue Reading
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11 Jan 2021
Information Blocking by EHR Vendors, Health Systems Still Prevalent
About half of the more than 100 health information exchange respondents said EHR vendors practice information blocking. Continue Reading
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08 Jan 2021
AR Rural Hospitals Get Help to Boost Health Information Exchange
A $250K grant aims to improve health information exchange for 14 rural hospitals and other care sites in Arkansas. Continue Reading
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30 Dec 2020
Year in Review: Most Read EHR, Interoperability Stories of 2020
COVID-19 put interoperability and electronic health records (EHRs) under the microscope in 2020. Continue Reading
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23 Dec 2020
Epic Systems Tops Major EHR Vendors in Health IT Interoperability
Every top EHR vendor has its interoperability flaws, but Epic Systems and Cerner have made significant strides over the last few years. Continue Reading
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15 Dec 2020
Tips to Integrate Social Determinants of Health Data into the EHR
Integrating social determinants of health (SDOH) data into the EHR can help providers and researchers gain insight on COVID-19. Continue Reading
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14 Dec 2020
CMS Proposes Rule to Streamline Prior Authorization, Data Exchange
The proposed rule intends to improve patient data exchange, interoperability, and clinical workflows by streamlining prior authorization. Continue Reading
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11 Dec 2020
EHR Tool Predicts Hospital Readmission Rates for Diabetes Patients
Researchers at Temple University developed an EHR tool to cut costs and predict hospital readmission rates for patients with diabetes. Continue Reading
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09 Dec 2020
Epic Systems Hits Record 221M Patient Data Exchanges in October
Following another COVID-19 surge in October, Epic Systems noted a 40 percent increase in patient data exchanges from October 2019. Continue Reading
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02 Dec 2020
How to Integrate a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program into the EHR
Executing a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) EHR integration only takes a number of steps. Continue Reading
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30 Nov 2020
Increased ePrescribing Interoperability is Needed for Patient Safety
A study showed further research is needed to increase patient safety and decrease prescription drug errors for community pharmacies that utilize ePrescribing. Continue Reading
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16 Nov 2020
How a Health System Cut Opioid Prescribing Rates, Clinician Burden
Norton Healthcare, Kentucky’s largest health system, decreased clinician burden and mitigated its opioid epidemic by integrating a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) tool into its EHR. Continue Reading
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02 Nov 2020
What It Means to Go Beyond ADT Notification Requirement: Part II
The ADT requirement can help close care gaps and reduce readmissions when appropriately and widely used. Continue Reading
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26 Oct 2020
How Hospitals Comply with the ADT CoP Requirement: Part I
Hospitals have to demonstrate compliance with a CMS requirement for ADT event notifications. Continue Reading
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16 Oct 2020
Best Practices to Fulfill the ONC Interoperability Rule
With a number of ONC interoperability rule compliance dates on the horizon, providers and health information exchanges will need to make some changes to adapt to these rules. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Oct 2020
Exploring 3 Levels of Health Information Exchange, Data Access
Health information exchanges across the country are boosting interoperability by connecting at the state, regional, and national levels. Continue Reading
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05 Oct 2020
DE Starts Prescription Drug Monitoring Program EHR Integration
Delaware providers will now benefit from the EHR integration of the state’s prescription drug monitoring program. Continue Reading
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22 Sep 2020
How COVID-19 Accelerated the Digital Transformation of Healthcare
Transformation, innovation, and connection are three main healthcare principals that have been put under a microscope during COVID-19. Continue Reading
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02 Sep 2020
COVID-19 Triggers ePrescribing, Direct Messaging Increase
Surescripts’ ePrescribing platform hit the 1 million prescriber mark during the spread of COVID-19. Continue Reading
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02 Jun 2020
EHRs, Interoperability Must Evolve to Integrate Genomic Data
In an effort to maximize the benefits of genomic data, EHRs can enhance interoperability by promoting patient data access. Continue Reading
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Feature
03 Apr 2020
Integrating Social Determinants of Health into the EHR
Addressing social determinant requires integration of this information into the EHR. Otherwise, providers will not be able to use it for clinical decision-making. Continue Reading
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19 Mar 2020
VA Preparing for April Launch of Health Information Exchange
A doctor from the Department of Veterans Affairs explained why veterans should feel safe and secure with their health information under their new system, the Veterans Health Information Exchange (VHIE). Continue Reading
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12 Mar 2020
3 Consequences of Patient Matching, Health Record Issues
Patient safety, hospital finances, and patient privacy are all at risk when patient matching falls short. Continue Reading
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06 Sep 2017
NQF Framework Aims to Improve Interoperability Measurement
A goal of the interoperability measurement framework is to satisfy provisions of 21st Century Cures Act. Continue Reading