Interoperability means different healthcare systems and software can share, understand, and use patient data in the same way. This is very important for better teamwork among healthcare providers. It helps avoid repeating tests and treatments, supports care based on results, and manages health problems better.
In the US, interoperable systems are important since patients often see many providers in different health systems. Good interoperability lets providers quickly access full patient histories, lab results, medication records, and other key information.
The HL7-FHIR standard is becoming a common framework used by healthcare groups across the country. It offers a flexible way to manage healthcare data like patient details, medications, and allergies. This makes it easier for different IT systems to work together and share data reliably.
APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) also help by allowing software platforms to communicate without issues. Many US medical practices use APIs to support interoperability and improve clinical work processes.
Moving from paper records to electronic health records (EHRs) is a big change in managing healthcare data. EHRs give providers a live, digital look at patient health information from different places. This shift helps improve patient care and makes operations more efficient.
Handling requests for medical records from health plans and other groups is often time-consuming. Before, this was done with fax machines, phone calls, and manual checks, leading to delays, errors, high costs, and staffing problems.
Companies like Datavant have created automated systems to speed up this process. In 2023, Datavant handled over 60 million record requests through networks including 65% of the top 200 US health systems. Their system turns paper-based requests into digital ones, greatly reducing the need for faxing and calling.
Dana Golden, Coding Compliance Manager at Eye Associates of New Mexico, said that before automation, request processing took two to three weeks. After using Datavant’s system, most requests are done within a day. This lets staff spend more time helping patients instead of on paperwork.
Automated systems check incoming requests carefully through quality control. Problems that need a person’s judgment are flagged. This helps keep patient data safe and follow rules.
Datavant CEO Pete McCabe says automation reduces costs and inefficiencies for both providers and health plans. It also helps keep data sharing clear and compliant with rules.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are being used more in healthcare data to improve workflows and decisions. For healthcare managers and IT staff, AI-driven automation offers real benefits for office work and patient data handling.
Healthcare is moving toward “deep interoperability,” where systems not only share data but also combine information from many sources and automate clinical tasks.
Research shows that deep interoperability has doubled recently. It helps find and manage patient records across different organizations automatically. This leads to better clinical decisions and improves patient experiences by giving providers quick access to complete information.
Deep interoperability uses technologies like cloud computing, standard data formats (FHIR), blockchain for secure data sharing, and edge computing for fast data processing near where data is created, such as clinics or patient devices.
New technologies offer chances to improve healthcare data handling:
Healthcare managers in the US should consider:
Healthcare data handling in the US is changing fast with new standards, digital records, and automation. Practices that adopt these changes can work more efficiently, spend less, and improve patient care. AI will keep playing a bigger role in routine tasks and complex workflows in the future.
Datavant’s record request automation solution helps healthcare organizations streamline the process of handling medical record requests from health plans, reducing reliance on traditional methods like faxing and phone calls. It is designed to improve compliance, visibility, and efficiency in managing requests.
In 2023, Datavant processed over 60 million record requests, including more than 15 million requests specifically from health plans across its extensive network of healthcare systems.
The solution enhances efficiency, improves security, reduces seasonal staffing needs, and reallocates resources towards patient care while ensuring compliant and monitored data sharing.
Datavant employs digital connectors to automatically pull incoming health plan requests, integrating them into quality control processes, allowing for organized monitoring and handling of exceptions.
Healthcare organizations reported significant efficiency gains, with processes that once took weeks now being completed in a day, as noted by clients like Eye Associates of New Mexico.
Traditional methods often involve delays, high costs, and inefficiencies due to heavy reliance on faxing and manual call center staffing, which can lead to errors and slower patient care.
Datavant’s mission is to make health data secure, accessible, and usable. They aim to facilitate secure data movement and connectivity within the healthcare ecosystem.
Healthcare organizations, health plans, and ultimately patients benefit from streamlined processes, greater visibility, and the prioritization of compliance and data security.
The automation solution incorporates robust quality control measures and allows healthcare organizations to review shared information, ensuring compliance with their policies.
Datavant plans to continue enhancing its healthcare data logistics capabilities, potentially expanding its partnerships and technology offerings to further improve healthcare interoperability and efficiency.
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