Importance of Data Integration
As
healthcare organizations (HCOs) begin to utilize disparate systems increasingly
for data input, storage and analysis, they require greater integration and
interoperability between various systems. Describe the various systems impacted
and why data integration is important. What are the key issues--both to data
systems internal and external to the enterprise?
As electronic health records (EHR) become the more accepted
de facto standard of health information storage. One issue remains constant
which is semantic interoperability. The question of how do we integrate all the
systems used in health care to communicate internally as well as externally to
the benefit of the patient’s continuity of care has yet to be answered.
Although there are many benefits to having a fully integrative EHR such as cost
reduction, and improved quality of care. Interoperability remains to be a major
issue for not only health care organization, but the vendors that supply the
EHR.
How do we make our systems talk? Are the systems we
currently have fully integrative? Are our investments in health information
technology (HIT) beneficial to the organization, stakeholders, and most
importantly patients? These are questions organizations need to ask before
implementation. Cantwell and Mcdermott (2016), identify these kinds of
questions to be fundamental in determining where organizations stand with
regards to organizational investments in technology. Moreover, they argue that
the current lack of interoperability can compromise patient care and reduce
goals for population health management (Cantwell and Mcdermott, 2016). The idea
behind HIT is to aid in patient care and improve public health. The lack of
interoperable systems delays the process of improved public health and
increases cost for investors.
According to Zimlich and Futrell (2015), vendors of EHR’s
are holding patient data “hostage”, and the reason being is lack of
interoperable guidelines. Under the Health Information Technology for Economic
and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), and the development of meaningful use
incentive program to assist providers in implementing EHR’s. The act failed to
address interoperability guidelines that would have enabled vendors to develop
solutions for EHR’s to communicate information amongst multiple platforms
during phase one of meaningful use guidelines (Zimlich and Futrell, 2015). In
turn not only are organizations investing in annual and monthly updates, but
now they have to invest in proprietary costs to allow systems to communicate.
Moreover, other healthcare information systems are being affected and without a
solution costs of HIT can only be expected to increase.
Laboratory information systems (LIS) are amongst the various
systems that require interoperable interfaces with EHR’s in order to meet
meaningful use requirements under phase two. LIS is a crucial system in health
care and can help with improving quality of care as well as reducing turnaround
time. The major issues these systems face are similar to EHR’s and are related
to vendor proprietary requirements and immature standards limiting vendors from
creating fully integrative systems that can communicate with other healthcare
systems (Shmidt, 2015).
The lack of coordination between systems is a major
challenge for data systems internal and external to the enterprise. Without a
standardized solution to developing systems that can communicate semantically.
Healthcare organizations will continue to pay large costs in HIT expenses.
Moreover, the healthcare industry will not see the full effects of cost
reduction, improved public health outcomes, and effective continuity of care
until there is a standardized guideline for interoperability.
References:
Cantwell, E., & McDermott, K. (1016). Making technology
talk how interoperability can improve care, drive efficiency, and reduce waste.
Retrieved from: http://medicalinteroperability.org/making-technology-talk-how-interoperability-can-improve-care-drive-efficiency-and-reduce-waste/
Schmidt, M., & Futrell, K. (2015). What should lab
directors consider when evaluating lis options. Retrieved from: http://www.mlo-online.com/what-should-lab-directors-consider-when-evaluating-lis-options.php
Zimlich, R. (2015). EHR vendors are holding patient data
‘hostage,’ tech expert says. Retrieved from: http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/ehr-vendors-are-holding-patient-data-hostage-tech-expert-says
