Provider Engagement Increases w/ Shift From Interoperability to Compatibility
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by Rumaisa
Background
In theory, interoperability seems like an effective solution to increasing provider engagement and positive patient outcomes. In actuality, it proves to be more burdensome than not. This is because interoperability requires vendors to work together with one another. However, most vendors would prefer to continue selling their own products rather than integrating them to work with other systems. This creates a multitude of problems. For instance, physicians commonly get lab results through fax and then need to upload them into their systems [1]. This makes sharing data challenging and can delay treatment. Furthermore, even if two systems are integrated, there can be a delay which leads to duplicate records as the hospitals resort to faxing [1]. This results in delayed updates, mismatched records, and search delays that make it harder to diagnose the patient [1]. Therefore, interoperability seems like a farfetched idea that creates burdens and decreases provider engagement.
Solution
Alleviating EHR Related Burdens
In order to remove these burdens and promote provider engagement, healthcare professionals should switch towards increasing compatibility between systems. Cloud computing achieves this by providing the digital transformation needed to increase provider engagement. For instance, since cloud computing implements natural language processing, different documents can be analyzed and tracked [2]. Furthermore, all of a patient’s charts from different systems will be in one place. This reduces errors and allows providers to receive meaningful data that can improve the accuracy of their diagnoses [2]. APIs can also be implemented to manage large amounts of data efficiently from different systems [3]. When integrated with AI systems, APIs can provide alerts and meaningful connections between different systems. Overall, cloud computing promotes effective data transfer that relieves EHR burdens from physicians. This allows them to be more engaged to provide preventive and personalized care.
Promoting Patient-Centric Solutions
Shifting towards compatibility increases provider engagement and leads to more patient-centric solutions. Cloud computing achieves this by promoting collaboration between different healthcare professionals and patients. For instance, providers can communicate with patients in a centralized location and receive text messages about symptoms or treatment questions [2]. This allows physicians to be more engaged with patients and adjust the treatment plan as needed. Additionally, providers can encourage patients to schedule telehealth visits that provide remote monitoring and preventive services as needed [2]. Physicians can also refer patients to different departments while continuing to be updated with real-time data. Therefore, cloud computing increases collaboration between providers and patients and enables real-time and personalized care, leading to patient-centric solutions.
Conclusion
Interoperability has been around for years and continues to be out of reach due to the lack of vendors making their systems integrated with one another. It would be more effective to promote compatibility between different systems instead. Cloud computing achieves this by relieving EHR-related burdens and promoting collaboration. Overall, cloud computing increases provider engagement due to accessible and meaningful data interactions. This results in more positive patient health outcomes.
References