There is a great article in Physicians Practice entitled “Technology: The Road to EMR Interoperability.” Key points of the article include:
- The article highlights key reasons why there are so many standards in existence today, and it makes several good analogies to explain the state that we are currently in.
- Not only is there a lack of interoperability standards, there is little agreement on basic terminology such as EMR, EHR, etc.
- Why bother with EMR interoperability? Key reasons: patient safety, accessibility, and efficiency.
- How can you get involved? Collaborate, get on board, be open to sharing…
In the presidential debates, each candidate mentions the need for online patient records, but it is done in such a casual manner that it seems so simple. “Why hasn’t it been done already?” This must be the thought going through the audience’s minds (if they are really listening). However, reality is different — multiple, differing standards along with confusion over basic definitions and many other barriers get in the way. It takes effort to dig deeper and strong will to move interoperability forward.
For additional information on EMRs and interoperability, please explore our various blogs on these topics, and read the Physicians Practice article to get a good practical overview.
Related posts:
- Interoperability, RSNA, and Standards – What Do They Have in Common?
- HL7 2.X Interoperability and Conformance Profiles
- Healthcare IT Definitions Released
- What Are Z Segments?
- DRA: Growing the Radiology Business
