The numerous health IT solutions we have around us today were meant to improve not just the delivery of care, but also enhance patient outcomes as the care continues across multiple practices. At the most basic level, I suppose we can define interoperability as two or more systems communicating with each other- how and when you want something to interoperate and talk. We may have EHRs all over the nation, but that has not led to an easy flow of health data across different care settings. Even today, there are essential pieces of information that are either missing or hard to access.
What Does An Interoperable Value-Based System Look Like?
So far, developing a national patient identifier, improving standardization across the industry and terminating information blocking are the hurdles remaining in the way of 100 percent interoperability. Still, what can we achieve with a connected healthcare?
Consider a patient, George. George is 67 years old with slightly high blood pressure and lives alone. After he felt his blood pressure rise and ran off to the nearest ER a couple of times, his children insisted he started using an app that takes just one tap to notify his doctor and his children of his condition. Although his episodes weren't severe, George decided he might as well use the app just in case something serious did happen, and he needed assistance.
Last month, George was diagnosed with sleep apnea and started using some medications. The suggestions for most of these medications popped up on his phone's screen. And, just a few days ago, George decided to get a fitness tracker- he uses the tracker to count the number of steps, his resting heart rate, his blood pressure and whatnot.
Each of these devices and apps provides value to George, helping him manage his health and keep a stroke at bay. However, if these devices were to share information, it might be possible for George's doctor to figure out symptoms of a stroke from the quality of his sleep and share better-suited care plans. Indeed, the data would be much more valuable, helping George's caregivers be aware and notified, identify patterns in his health and monitor his health on the go.
There lies the promise of data sharing and interoperability in a true value-based care world.
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Source: Health IT Outcomes (View full article)
Posted by Dan Corcoran on December 7, 2017 07:14 AM
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