Introduction
The adoption of digital systems in healthcare poses a number of advantages for providers and patients. However, the wide variety of solutions raises the issue of compatibility between different platforms, preventing efficient data exchange. The following paper provides an overview of a solution to the issue covered in FierceHealthIT and outlines the main advantages and challenges associated with it.
Topic Selection and Rationale
The topic chosen for the assignment is the implementation of interoperability framework capable of sharing data across multiple vendors and capturing certain patient-generated information. The article covering the topic presents an example of such a system created by a non-profit organization SSM Health and launched in 2016 (Hirsch, 2018). According to the information from the article, the system is leveraging the possibilities offered by health information exchanges (HIEs) from several states and is compatible with several patient-centered services that collect, store, and process data submitted by the patients (Hirsch, 2018).
The topic was chosen for two reasons. First, the issue of interoperability of digital data is a serious problem in the field of modern healthcare. The ongoing shift from paper-based to digital data formats requires the compatibility of the information across multiple platforms and systems. Currently, there is no unified standard that could be adopted in an agreeable fashion by the developers of the solutions and clinicians. As a result, it is reasonable to expect the decline of compatibility in the short term, especially in the absence of a central authority that could point to the most viable direction of development. Second, the system covered in the article is built upon health information exchange services, which are expected to become the default approach in data storage, transfer, and analysis. The existence of a functional prototype that is efficient and has the potential for further development is essential for a successful transformation of health care delivery practices.
Impact on Practice
In order to understand the implications of the existence of interoperable systems on nursing practices, it is necessary to outline the current state of affairs in healthcare. Despite significant progress made in the transition to the use of digital data, a significant proportion of information is still stored in paper format. When the need to transfer a certain document to a specific party arises, it is usually done using mail, fax, or is delivered by the patient. In addition to enormous operational inefficiency and slow speed of the transfer, this method creates a number of safety concerns and may result in loss of data or exposure of sensitive information. Importantly, the current state of technology used in healthcare solutions allows eliminating the said issues by using data protection mechanisms and direct messaging (Reicher & Reicher, 2016). However, this approach creates the problem of compatibility, as different vendors use different platforms and, as a result, convert data to different formats.
At this point, it would be reasonable to suggest the introduction of a unified standard as the most appropriate solution. However, this outcome is unlikely due to the multitude of different platforms. Thus, in the short term, it would be more appropriate to aim at increasing interoperability between different sources of data to facilitate seamless and secure exchange of data between stakeholders.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Approach
The approach to interoperability described in the article has several advantages. First, it allows the participants in the network to retain their preferred data formats. While this seems like a counterintuitive solution, it should be acknowledged that in many cases, software solutions used by healthcare providers and related organizations are relatively modern and, as a result, expensive. The high cost of transition to digital data is often cited as one of the reasons behind the insufficient pace of healthcare reform. In this light, the requirement to switch to a different format would result in massive financial difficulties and would not be possible for many organizations, whereas an increase in interoperability can be achieved relatively easily.
With this in mind, it is also necessary to recognize the involvement of external stakeholders. The difficulty of deploying unified healthcare standards, in this case, is complicated by the need to account for systems used in unrelated organizations, such as the Department of Defense database mentioned in the article (Hirsch, 2018). The interoperability approach would allow ensuring compatibility with these external systems in the most efficient manner possible.
Third, it is necessary to point out the benefits of the financial aspects of the approach. As was mentioned above, the shift to a new system is associated with major expenses, such as for purchasing of new software and hardware and staff training. In at least some cases, the effect will be cumulative, since some of the facilities have undergone the adoption of new platforms for handling digital patient data. The interoperability approach would mitigate the losses by ensuring compatibility with existing systems and, by extension, eliminating the need for major expenses.
Fourth, HIE-based approach is a feasible way of engaging the patients in health care delivery process by allowing patient-oriented services to interface with the network. Currently, a growing number of services incorporate functions based on patient-generated data, such as information on seasonal immunizations and biometric readings. Once processed and converted into an appropriate format, this data can provide valuable insights both for clinicians and nurses. In addition, the integration of patient-generated data would increase patient involvement in the treatment process, which is known to have a positive effect on patient outcomes (Renedo, Marston, Spyridonidis, & Barlow, 2015).
Finally, in the long term, it is possible to expect a positive impact of HIE implementation on monitoring and reporting of public health. Traditionally, gathering and processing large amounts of data requires significant time and resources. HIE implementation would allow obtaining the necessary data relatively seamlessly.
However, it is also important to acknowledge several challenges. First, in the short term, it is possible to expect technical difficulties that may lead to loss of data. Second, the variability of systems can make progress in achieving interoperability uneven, leading to delays in some areas of healthcare. Finally, it is possible to expect the emergence of data security issues, especially considering the involvement of different operating systems and devices.
Informatics Skills and Knowledge
The selected topic required knowledge of digital data systems and services for collecting and processing patient-submitted data. Next, a basic understanding of data format compatibility was necessary for developing the assignment. Finally, the familiarity with data analysis and security was helpful in outlining some of the pros and cons of the approach.
Conclusion
As can be seen, HIE demonstrates significant potential for data interoperability in healthcare. Thus, in the short term, it can be recommended for the providers to examine the existing functional prototypes of the system. In the long run, it is advised to implement the interoperability solutions on an institutional level and support the process with relevant policies and guidelines to support the transition and increase the overall efficiency of the system.
References
Hirsch, M. D. (2018). Without a single solution, hospitals are taking different paths to interoperability. Web.
Reicher, J. J., & Reicher, M. A. (2016). Implementation of certified EHR, patient portal, and “direct” messaging technology in a radiology environment enhances communication of radiology results to both referring physicians and patients. Journal of Digital Imaging, 29(3), 337-340.
Renedo, A., Marston, C. A., Spyridonidis, D., & Barlow, J. (2015). Patient and public involvement in healthcare quality improvement: How organizations can help patients and professionals to collaborate. Public Management Review, 17(1), 17-34.