Interoperability in healthcare
Interoperability in healthcare refers to how information systems, devices, and applications access, exchange and cooperatively use data. Learn how seamless information flow among various healthcare organizations improves the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare delivery.
Top Stories
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News
23 Apr 2024
ONC releases Common Agreement Version 2.0 for TEFCA
ONC has released the TEFCA Common Agreement Version 2.0, as well as Participant and Subparticipant Terms of Participation, to further health data interoperability. Continue Reading
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15 Apr 2024
How The Sequoia Project is promoting health data usability
The Sequoia Project's Taking Root Initiative is looking to address health data usability issues across the industry, ranging from human factors to technical challenges. Continue Reading
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08 Feb 2023
How An HIE Approaches Continuous Patient Data Quality Improvement
An HIE in Tennessee has tapped an AI-based platform to reduce duplicate patient EHRs as part of its patient data quality improvement efforts. Continue Reading
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01 Feb 2023
HealtheLINK HIE Reports Uptick in Health Data Exchange in 2022
In 2022, the HealtheLINK HIE delivered more than 1.1 million clinical results monthly, a 16 percent increase in health data exchange over 2021. Continue Reading
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31 Jan 2023
PCP Use of Community HIE Cuts Likelihood of Hospital Reutilization
While PCP use of community HIE lowered the chances of hospital reutilization, clinicians only looked up three percent of patients recently released from the hospital. Continue Reading
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30 Jan 2023
HIA Calls on Congress for Healthcare Interoperability, ePA Legislation
HIA called for policy to support healthcare interoperability through a standards-based, real-time approach to electronic prior authorization (ePA). Continue Reading
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24 Jan 2023
Regenstrief Institute Framework Addresses Patient Matching Accuracy
The eight-pronged framework will work as a ‘measuring stick,’ providing consistent guidelines to assess the accuracy of patient matching algorithms. Continue Reading
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24 Jan 2023
How EHR Integrations Can Tailor Patient Outreach for Value-Based Care
EHR integrations can help healthcare organizations conduct patient outreach to support value-based care delivery and improve population health. Continue Reading
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23 Jan 2023
Lack of Interoperability Exacerbates Staffing Shortages, Clinician Burnout
Provider organizations noted poor interoperability as the most common problem they need help addressing, as it worsens clinician burnout and staffing shortages. Continue Reading
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20 Jan 2023
MO Set to Launch Statewide Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
The enactment of this program will make Missouri the 50th to integrate prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) data into the EHR. Continue Reading
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19 Jan 2023
Interoperability, Data Quality Leads the Way as Top Exec Priorities
Healthcare systems and hospital executives are focusing on interoperability initiatives as they seek to improve data quality and information sharing challenges in 2023. Continue Reading
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18 Jan 2023
DirectTrust Releases TNAP Version 2.0 Criteria for TEFCA Participants
The DirectTrust TNAP-Participant accreditation program demonstrates stakeholder compliance with TEFCA Participant requirements. Continue Reading
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17 Jan 2023
COVID-19 Sparks Health IT Market Growth in Telehealth EHR Integrations
Telehealth EHR integrations were twice as likely to contain specialized capabilities for COVID-19 response compared to all apps listed in EHR app galleries. Continue Reading
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17 Jan 2023
ONC Releases Draft US Core Data for Interoperability Version 4
ONC encourages the public to submit comments on the Draft United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) v4 until April 17. Continue Reading
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12 Jan 2023
Physicians in ACOs More Likely to Use HIE to Share Patient Data
While ACO participation is associated with higher HIE use, some physicians in emerging care models face barriers to data exchange, including a lack of connectivity. Continue Reading
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11 Jan 2023
ONC Releases 2023 Interoperability Standards Advisory Reference Edition
The 2023 ONC Interoperability Standards Advisory Reference Edition includes a new Human and Social Services subsection. Continue Reading
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05 Jan 2023
DirectTrust and Health Data Standards Org EHNAC Announce Completion of Merger
The EHNAC Commission will oversee health data standard accreditation-specific matters, and The DirectTrust Board of Directors will continue as is. Continue Reading
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04 Jan 2023
California HIE Earns NCQA Validated Data Stream Designation for Third Year
As an NCQA Validated Data Stream, California’s statewide health information exchange (HIE) helps reduce the burden of HEDIS reporting for payers. Continue Reading
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27 Dec 2022
What Are HL7 Fast Healthcare Interoperability (FHIR) Accelerators?
HL7 Fast Healthcare Interoperability (FHIR) accelerators aim to advance health data exchange for various use cases, like genomic data sharing. Continue Reading
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15 Dec 2022
The Sequoia Project Publishes Health Data Usability Implementation Guide
The data usability resource from The Sequoia Project covers topics like health data integrity, the effective use of codes, and data searchability. Continue Reading
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15 Dec 2022
FAST Releases Implementation Guides for HL7 FHIR Health Data Exchange
The FAST implementation guides cover data security and intermediary health data exchange topics within the HL7 FHIR environment. Continue Reading
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13 Dec 2022
eHealth Exchange HIE Reaches 1.35 Billion Health Data Requests Per Month
eHealth Exchange officials originally intended the health data exchange hub to support a million transactions per day, but now the HIE processes 33 million requests daily. Continue Reading
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09 Dec 2022
Epic Launches Website for Health IT Vendors to Report Interoperability
The site will be open to all health IT vendors, not just Epic App Market participants, to expedite vendors’ ability to demonstrate interoperability. Continue Reading
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08 Dec 2022
HL7 Calls on NCVHS to Designate FHIR as Clinical Attachments Data Standard
HL7 officials outlined how the FHIR data standard can support HIPAA-mandated prior authorization and clinical attachments workflows. Continue Reading
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08 Dec 2022
Bulk FHIR Could Boost Access to Immunization Data for Population Health
An open-source population health database tool that uses the Bulk FHIR protocol could synchronize the data in its system with the state immunization system for community-based efforts. Continue Reading
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02 Dec 2022
NextGen Healthcare Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire TSI Healthcare
NextGen Healthcare will work to expand specialty care services as a result of acquiring health IT vendor TSI Healthcare. Continue Reading
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01 Dec 2022
CMS Publishes RFI for National Healthcare Provider Directory Data Hub
According to a CAQH estimate, transitioning healthcare provider directory data to a single platform could save the healthcare system $1.1 billion annually. Continue Reading
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30 Nov 2022
CalHHS Launches Portal for State’s First Health Data Sharing Agreement
The data sharing agreement is the first step in the CalHHS Data Exchange Framework, which seeks to promote health equity through enhanced interoperability. Continue Reading
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23 Nov 2022
Pew Focuses Health IT Efforts on Public Health Data Sharing
After working to support policies for enhanced health IT use, Pew is looking to improve data sharing between providers and state public health agencies. Continue Reading
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22 Nov 2022
100+ Healthcare Organizations Join Texas HIE Network for Care Coordination
An HIE partnership has brought together healthcare organizations across Texas to share patient health data through a single platform for care coordination. Continue Reading
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18 Nov 2022
DirectTrust, EHNAC Merge to Advance Health Data Exchange Accreditation
The merger will help healthcare organizations better navigate the privacy and security hurdles that afflict health data exchange, an EHNAC official said. Continue Reading
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17 Nov 2022
MI HIE Hosts Community of Practice to Advance Social Care Data Interoperability
The Michigan HIE has convened eight social care platform vendors, including WellSky and Findhelp, to collaborate on social care data interoperability efforts. Continue Reading
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09 Nov 2022
WEDI Calls on HHS to Delay No Surprises Act Data Exchange Requirements
WEDI said that HHS should employ a glidepath approach to the No Surprises Act data exchange requirements until the industry has adopted data standards to support GFEs. Continue Reading
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01 Nov 2022
ONC Pilots Guide to Further SDOH Interoperability, Standards
The affinity group will define the exchange of SDOH data using the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard to support SDOH interoperability supported by ONC USCDI version 2. Continue Reading
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27 Oct 2022
CMS IPPS Policies Set to Advance Public Health Data Exchange
The CMS 2023 IPPS final rule requires antimicrobial use and resistance (AUR) data exchange to help advance public health reporting. Continue Reading
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13 Oct 2022
How AZ Drives Health Equity for American Indian Populations Through HIE
The initiative aims to drive health equity by incentivizing IHS facilities to participate in the HIE with a 2.5 percent increase over the standard Medicaid reimbursement rate. Continue Reading
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12 Oct 2022
Training, Interoperability Key for Electronic Health Information Sharing
Many organizations reported that training across and within departments, as well as with patients, was a priority for electronic health information sharing. Continue Reading
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11 Oct 2022
The Sequoia Project Seeks Feedback on Draft TEFCA FHIR Implementation Guide
The Sequoia Project has published a draft facilitated FHIR implementation guide, which includes proposed technical and process requirements for TEFCA data exchange. Continue Reading
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11 Oct 2022
MEDITECH Expands Collaborative Environments for Health IT Development
Health IT developers will have access to a collaborative environment that supports SMART on FHIR apps as part of the MEDITECH Greenfield Workspace. Continue Reading
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28 Sep 2022
Maryland Designates CRISP HIE as State Health Data Utility
The operation of the CRISP HIE as a health data utility is set to improve some of the state’s leading public health priorities, such as prescription drug monitoring. Continue Reading
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22 Sep 2022
The Sequoia Project Issues Final Set of Information Blocking Resources
The Sequoia Project has put together five resources to support stakeholders as they navigate the information blocking rules issued by ONC. Continue Reading
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19 Sep 2022
Collaboration Needed for Race, Ethnicity Data Collection, Exchange
Stakeholders should agree on race, ethnicity, and language data collection and validation approaches to advance data-driven health equity efforts. Continue Reading
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19 Sep 2022
Advancing Interoperability to Support Informed Healthcare
Achieving seamless interoperability depends on the healthcare industry’s ability to overcome obstacles such as lack of data standardization and integrity. Continue Reading
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13 Sep 2022
CalHHS Data Exchange Framework Set to Boost Interoperability
By January 31, 2023, hospitals, physician practices, and certain other entities are required to sign an agreement governing participation in the CalHHS Data Exchange Framework. Continue Reading
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08 Sep 2022
Regenstrief Secures CDC Grant for Long COVID-19 Research Using HIE Data
Researchers from the Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University will leverage data from the Indiana Network for Patient Care (INPC) HIE to develop a comprehensive, population-based surveillance system for long COVID-19. Continue Reading
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07 Sep 2022
HIE Participation Supports Data Exchange for 64% of Shared Patients
Researchers noted that national HIE initiatives, such as TEFCA, could help close data exchange gaps. Continue Reading
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02 Sep 2022
Surescripts Facilitates Health Data Exchange for About 20% of Americans
Surescripts enabled health data exchange for 622 million clinical documents during the first six months of 2022, an increase of 76 percent over 2021. Continue Reading
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31 Aug 2022
ONC, HRSA Partner on Uniform Data System Interoperability Initiative
ONC and HRSA are working on establishing a USCDI+ dataset to advance the interoperability of HRSA’s Uniform Data System (UDS) and improve access to health data. Continue Reading
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29 Aug 2022
Combatting the Opioid Crisis Through PDMP EHR Integrations
PDMP EHR integrations can address barriers to accessing PDMP data to inform clinical practice and improve opioid prescribing, ONC officials say. Continue Reading
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26 Aug 2022
Texas Community HIE Rebrands, Expands Offerings to Other States
A community health information exchange (HIE) based in Texas has renamed itself C3HIE based on the themes of “Connected, Collaborative, and Community.” Continue Reading
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25 Aug 2022
The Sequoia Project Selects HITRUST as TEFCA Security Certifying Body
QHINs must obtain the HITRUST Risk-based, 2-year (r2) Certification to comply with TEFCA security requirements. Continue Reading
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23 Aug 2022
Civitas Selects Tech Partner for National PCDH Interoperability Initiative
The continued growth of the PCDH initiative will further advance regional and nationwide interoperability progress, Civitas officials noted. Continue Reading
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22 Aug 2022
Idaho State-Designated Health Information Exchange Files for Bankruptcy
Health IT Vendor PointCare sued the health information exchange last month, claiming it stopped making payments on a two-year contract and still owed $85,350. Continue Reading
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19 Aug 2022
Data Exchange Challenges Impede Electronic Public Health Reporting
Over 70 percent of hospitals experienced at least one major challenge with electronic public health reporting, according to 2019 ONC data. Continue Reading
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17 Aug 2022
Yale Rheumatology Joins Qualified Clinical Data Registry
The qualified clinical data registry, Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE), contains a robust patient data source to help clinicians improve care quality and expand research opportunities. Continue Reading
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16 Aug 2022
HL7 Da Vinci Project Recognizes Health IT Experts as 'Community Champions'
The HL7 Da Vinci Project leadership created the Community Champions Program last year to celebrate stakeholders advancing interoperability across the industry. Continue Reading
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16 Aug 2022
NextGen Healthcare Announces Intent to Apply for TEFCA QHIN Role
Officials said that NextGen Healthcare's interoperability experience has primed the health IT vendor to become a TEFCA QHIN. Continue Reading
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10 Aug 2022
The Sequoia Project Releases Draft Information Blocking Resources
The Sequoia Project requests public feedback until August 19 on a set of resources that aim to help stakeholders comply with 21st Century Cures Rule information blocking requirements. Continue Reading
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09 Aug 2022
EHR Vendor Epic Systems: Applying as TEFCA QHIN a ‘Logical Next Step’
Epic is the first EHR vendor to announce its intention to participate in the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) as a QHIN. Continue Reading
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02 Aug 2022
HL7 Launches GenomeX Community to Enhance Genomic Data Interoperability
HL7 seeks members to help develop scalable FHIR-based use cases for genomic data interoperability to support personalized care delivery. Continue Reading
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02 Aug 2022
Carequality Interoperability Framework OKs Federal Participation
Allowing federal agencies to participate in the Carequality Interoperability Framework is expected to expand data exchange between the private sector and government agencies. Continue Reading
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25 Jul 2022
All of Us Research Program Issues RFI for EHR Data Collection from HIEs
HIEs could help broaden the availability of EHR data in the All of Us dataset without requiring additional action by participants. Continue Reading
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22 Jul 2022
Intermountain Partnership Automates EHR Data for Organ Donor Referrals
The new tool will use time-sensitive EHR data to automate organ donor referrals, enhancing coordination between hospitals and organ procurement organizations (OPOs). Continue Reading
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20 Jul 2022
The Sequoia Project Releases TEFCA Flow-Down Resource
New resources from The Sequoia Project outline TEFCA flow-down provisions and the kinds of entities that can be participants or subparticipants in TEFCA. Continue Reading
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14 Jul 2022
Alaska DOH Seeks Proposals for Statewide Health Information Exchange Services
With its HITECH Act funding ending, the Alaska DOH is looking for proposals for statewide health information exchange services to drive interoperability. Continue Reading
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13 Jul 2022
ACEP Taps Consultancy for Clinical Emergency Data Digital Platform
The partnership is set to advance care delivery through analytics by integrating clinical emergency data from over 1,000 hospitals into a digital platform. Continue Reading
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11 Jul 2022
The Sequoia Project Releases TEFCA Draft SOP for IAS Exchange Purpose
The Sequoia Project welcomes public feedback on a draft standard operating procedure (SOP) for the TEFCA IAS Exchange Purpose until July 29, 2022. Continue Reading
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08 Jul 2022
Epic EHR Integration to Improve Molecular Testing Access
The EHR integration will let oncologists order Caris Life Sciences’ entire testing portfolio directly within Epic, improving molecular testing access for patients. Continue Reading
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05 Jul 2022
Improved SDOH Data Collection, Interoperability Needed for Health Equity
Panelists at an ONC Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC) hearing emphasized the need for standardized SDOH data collection and closed-loop referral processes to inform health equity efforts. Continue Reading
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01 Jul 2022
How a Unified EHR Implementation Can Boost Interoperability, Efficiencies
An EHR implementation at a New Hampshire community hospital is set to enhance interoperability and the patient experience. Continue Reading
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30 Jun 2022
Greater Collaboration Needed for Digital Health, Interoperability
As the digital health transformation progresses, an article from the National Academy of Medicine called for interoperability standards to go beyond EHRs. Continue Reading
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29 Jun 2022
Epic EHR Integration Expands Patient Access to Genetic Testing
Over 250 million providers that use Epic Systems will now be able to order an array of tests from Myriad through this EHR integration, increasing patient access to genetic testing. Continue Reading
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27 Jun 2022
FAST Becomes an HL7 FHIR Accelerator, Enhancing FHIR Scalability
As a new HL7 FHIR Accelerator, FAST will be able to continue its scalability work and develop infrastructural standards to support FHIR implementations. Continue Reading
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22 Jun 2022
New England HIE Collaboration Enables Regional Interoperability
The HIE collaboration between Maine’s HealthInfoNet, The Rhode Island Quality Institute (RIQI), and Vermont’s VITL aims to boost regional interoperability for better care coordination. Continue Reading
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22 Jun 2022
How FHIR APIs Can Support Genomic Data Sharing for Research, Patient Care
As part of ONC’s Sync for Genes program, two healthcare organizations demonstrated how HL7 FHIR APIs can facilitate genomic data sharing. Continue Reading
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20 Jun 2022
EHR Vendor Epic Announces Plan to Join TEFCA Interoperability Network
The EHR vendor will apply to join the TEFCA interoperability network as an inaugural Qualified Health Information Network (QHIN). Continue Reading
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20 Jun 2022
Paper-Based Dental Data Sharing Hampers Patient Safety, Outcomes
An NIH-funded study will examine how community health information exchanges (HIEs) could support dental data sharing for patient safety. Continue Reading
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15 Jun 2022
APIs Need to Enhance Clinical Workflows, Improve Patient Care
To motivate patient and provider adoption, API-enabled apps should focus on improving clinical workflows and advancing patient care. Continue Reading
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13 Jun 2022
Affiliation Agreement with HEALTHeLINK Focuses on Health Disparities
The partnership between HEALTHeLINK and the Population Health Collaborative plans to build on HIE infrastructure that supports strategies to address health disparities of patients in Western New York. Continue Reading
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07 Jun 2022
EHR Integration Boosts Primary Care Clinician PDMP Query Rate
An EHR integration helped streamline access to a PDMP by removing the need for primary care clinicians to log into a separate web portal. Continue Reading
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03 Jun 2022
eHealth Exchange Reaches 1 Billion HIE Transactions Per Month
eHealth Exchange officials noted that the HIE intends to apply to become a TEFCA Qualified Health Information Network (QHIN). Continue Reading
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31 May 2022
Variation in LOINC Code Adoption Impedes Lab Data Interoperability
Medical centers vary in organizing, categorizing, and storing LIS catalog information, which hampers lab data interoperability and quality. Continue Reading
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25 May 2022
Biden 2023 Budget Proposes Advisory Opinions for Information Blocking
The proposed new budget will allow HHS to create an advisory opinion process and issue advisory opinions for information blocking practices. Continue Reading
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24 May 2022
DirectTrust Gains ANSI Approval for ADT Event Notifications Data Standard
The event notifications data standard aims to help healthcare organizations comply with the new CMS rule on ADT notifications. Continue Reading
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23 May 2022
How a National Patient ID Standard Could Boost Population Health
Patient ID Now coalition members noted that a national patient ID standard could enhance population health through improved patient matching. Continue Reading
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23 May 2022
Montana Governor Announces $20M Investment in State HIE
The state will allocate most of the funding to the continued development and implementation of the current HIE while also implementing new services. Continue Reading
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17 May 2022
The Sequoia Project Releases Draft QHIN Onboarding Procedures for TEFCA
The Sequoia Project has requested healthcare stakeholder feedback on draft QHIN procedures for TEFCA. Continue Reading
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16 May 2022
Referential Algorithms Boost Patient Matching Accuracy
Referential algorithms include additional health data sources to support patient matching by building a more complete profile of each patient. Continue Reading
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13 May 2022
What Providers Should Know About the ONC Interoperability Rule
Per the ONC interoperability rule, healthcare providers must share all electronic health information (EHI) by October 6, 2022. Continue Reading
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12 May 2022
STAR HIE Program Supports Public Health Agencies Throughout COVID-19
The STAR HIE program funded advancements that have driven interoperability, enhanced public health data capabilities, increased vaccination data sharing, and reduced reporting burden. Continue Reading
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12 May 2022
HIA Outlines Solutions to Boost Healthcare Interoperability, Data Exchange
HIA gave six recommendations to help improve healthcare interoperability and data exchange to enhance patient care delivery. Continue Reading
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09 May 2022
AMIA and HL7 Announce Healthcare Interoperability Partnership
Longtime partners AMIA and HL7 have announced a two-year collaboration to advance healthcare interoperability through data standards. Continue Reading
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06 May 2022
3 Use Cases for Health Data Interoperability in Patient-Centered Care
Care coordination, advance care planning, and even dental HIE are critical use cases for how health data interoperability can support patient-centered care delivery. Continue Reading
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05 May 2022
Cerner EHR Integration Boosts Access to COVID-19 Therapeutics
Cerner will directly integrate ASPR’s COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator site within its EHR so providers can check a drug’s availability and location when prescribing. Continue Reading
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04 May 2022
CHI Comments on ONC USCDI Proposed Version 3 Data Classes
CHI officials called on ONC to include average blood pressure (ABP) as a data element in USCDI v3 to help address hypertension nationwide. Continue Reading
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03 May 2022
HL7 Launches ONC FAST Accelerator to Boost FHIR Scalability
HL7 officials noted that the FAST Accelerator will help define a scalable approach to deploying FHIR across interoperability use cases. Continue Reading
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03 May 2022
DirectTrust Celebrates 10 Years of Healthcare Interoperability Initiatives
Nonprofit healthcare industry alliance DirectTrust acknowledged 14 individuals for their contributions to healthcare interoperability on its tenth anniversary. Continue Reading
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28 Apr 2022
Could Dentist Participation in HIE Unlock Patient-Centered Care?
A partnership in Colorado will look at how adding dentists into the state’s HIE, CORHIO, will support patient-centered care and value-based payment models. Continue Reading
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25 Apr 2022
NY HIEs Launch SMART on FHIR App to Enhance Interoperability
The SMART on FHIR application will allow providers to access HIE information directly within their workflows, improving interoperability and data access. Continue Reading
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25 Apr 2022
IHS Health IT Modernization Focuses on Interoperability Best Practices
Significant advances in health IT interoperability over the past few decades have prompted IHS to modernize its RPMS EHR platform. Continue Reading
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21 Apr 2022
Data Standards, Community Stewardship Key for SDOH Data Exchange
According to the Gravity Project, data standards adoption is a foundational element of SDOH data exchange across social services and healthcare providers. Continue Reading
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20 Apr 2022
EHNAC Releases Updates to Health IT Accreditation Programs for Public Review
The process for commenting on the updated health IT accreditation criteria is open through June 21, 2022. Continue Reading