Having comprehensive patient data can make a significant difference to patient access, engagement and health outcomes. A well-organized and structured data is essential in delivering uncompromised care to patients. For a broader understanding on data structure, here’s an overview of three levels of interoperability that define the nature of the interoperable standards.

• 1. Foundational Interoperability. This is the first level of interoperability that characterizes the ability of an information system to exchange data. This is one of the foundational levels where it does not require a complex data structure and framework. The data need not be decoded or interpreted and is system-agnostic.
• 2. Structural Interoperability. The second level of interoperability defines the data structure of any information shared between systems. It has a standardized message formatting where data is both preserved, unaltered, and is immediately ready for use in the new system.
• 3. Semantic Interoperability. Semantic interoperability is the level specifically associated with the exchanging of healthcare data. Semantic model is where data is stored in the cloud infrastructure, and is a highly compliant and secure environment.

Better Care Starts with Better Data

Healthcare leaders understand the importance of having high-quality patient data that can be accessed by patients and physicians. Here’s how data can transform stakeholder experiences.

• 1. Provide quick and easy patient access to their medical records for proactive participation in their care journeys
• 2. Physicians get instant access to high-quality patient data—enabling them to get 360- degree view of patient’s health history and treatments
• 3. Delivering high-touch experiences and hyper-personalized care by discovering patient behaviors and preferences
• 4. Improving medication adherence by sending push notifications, reminders and patient education materials, helping them make appropriate food and lifestyle changes, post-treatment or surgery
• 5. Reducing no-shows and cancellations by sending appointment reminders and highly-interactive self-scheduling features powered by chatbots and automated conversations
• 6. Provide frictionless patient-physician experiences by streamlining and structuring medical records

For a more interoperable environment, care providers can harness valuable patient data gathered through various high-quality sources including Electronic Health Records (EHR), Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO), Patient Generated Health Data (PGHD), wearables, Internet of Things (IoT) powered devices, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) amongst many others. In the world of consumerism and value-based care, interoperability plays a critical role in creating organized workflows and data frameworks that help drive actionable insights and make informed decisions.

Key Components that Drive Value in Healthcare Interoperability

• 1. Data Privacy and Security. Enable Protected Health Information (PHI) portability in a highly compliant set up with additional emphasis on risk mitigation strategies, data lifecycle management capabilities, and requisite safeguards to provide superior data privacy and security
• 2. Strategy Guidelines. Clearly defined roles and responsibilities with accountabilities on creating a strategic roadmap and successfully achieving the interoperability standards of the organization
• 3. Technology and Data Management. Leveraging next-gen technologies, data management and data integration capabilities that encompass data governance, controls and supporting infrastructure
• 4. Program Strategy. Building a robust team to handle the end-to-end activities of the interoperability strategy including the program management to coordinate crossfunctional delivery teams, decision making, escalation, and performance tracking amongst the others
• 5. Operational Efficiency. It is essential that the interoperability guidelines and protocols are maintained and are aligned with the federal government standards of interoperability. The organization needs to make process and workflow changes to comply with regulations and develop additional business value

To learn more on adopting interoperability solutions to drive business value for your healthcare organization, give us a shout!