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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Feature
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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Tip
12 Apr 2024
Healthcare industry shows importance of data interoperability
Data interoperability facilitates the quick and easy exchange of information between different systems or applications. Its use in healthcare shows the importance of data exchange. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Apr 2024
How Regenstrief and HL7 are driving SDOH data standards
The Regenstrief Foundation has committed $4.4 million toward an expanded partnership with the HL7 Gravity Project to create SDOH data standards. Continue Reading
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News
27 Mar 2024
Carequality interoperability network celebrates 10 years of HIE
The Carequality interoperability framework facilitates the exchange of over 745,000,000 documents every month across disparate HIE networks, regions, and technologies. Continue Reading
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26 Mar 2024
Limited EHR integration impacts use of clinical communication tools
Interviewed customers of clinical communication vendors PerfectServe, TigerConnect, and Baxter reported the highest levels of EHR integration in a new KLAS report. Continue Reading
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15 Mar 2024
EHR vendor MEDITECH integrates generative AI for clinical notes
Building on its collaboration with Nuance Communications, EHR vendor MEDITECH has announced the integration of a generative AI tool that drafts clinical notes. Continue Reading
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11 Mar 2024
Surescripts reports increase in patient data sharing across HIE network
In 2023, Surescripts saw increased utilization of several patient data sharing tools, including its Real-Time Prescription Benefit services. Continue Reading
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11 Mar 2024
HEALTHeLINK HIE Launches Dashboard for Community Health
Community health organizations and providers in Western New York can search the HIE dashboard at a county and zip code level to inform public health initiatives. Continue Reading
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News
06 Mar 2024
Epic, Oracle Adopt USCDI+ Cancer Standard for Interoperability
Six EHR vendors, including Epic and Oracle, have voluntarily committed to adopt the USCDI+ Cancer standard to drive health data interoperability. Continue Reading
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29 Feb 2024
The Sequoia Project, HL7 Partner to Advance FHIR Adoption Nationwide
The partnership aims to drive alignment between HL7 FHIR Accelerator projects and The Sequoia Project initiatives to accelerate health data interoperability. Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2024
Regenstrief Updates LOINC with 800 Concepts for Health Data Exchange
LOINC release 2.77 reflects Regenstrief Institute’s work with partners like HL7 International and CMS to advance health data exchange across the care continuum. Continue Reading
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22 Feb 2024
HIE, NextGen Aid Compliance with Health Data Exchange Framework
SCHIO is using health data exchange tools from NextGen Healthcare to simplify compliance with HIE requirements that became mandatory across California on January 31, 2024. Continue Reading
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21 Feb 2024
Lawmakers Introduce MATCH IT Act for Patient Matching, Interoperability
The Patient Matching and Transparency in Certified Health IT (MATCH IT) Act of 2024 would improve the interoperability of patients' demographic data within certified health IT. Continue Reading
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14 Feb 2024
eHealth Exchange Announces Public Health Data Sharing Incentives
A new program will provide financial incentives to current and prospective members of eHealth Exchange to help boost public health data sharing. Continue Reading
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Answer
14 Feb 2024
How DirectTrust is Enhancing Health Data Interoperability, Usability
DirectTrust is looking to improve the usability of the Direct standard for use cases such as closed-loop referrals and ADT notifications to drive health data interoperability. Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2024
HHS, ONC Designate Additional QHINs for TEFCA Health Data Exchange
As QHINs, CommonWell Health Alliance and Kno2 can immediately begin supporting health data exchange under the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA). Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2024
Epic Study Finds Health Data Exchange Lowers Risk of Code Blue
In patients with a higher level of acuity in the ED, the presence of outside health data is linked to a 34 to 63 percent reduced risk of a code blue event, an Epic study found. Continue Reading
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News
29 Jan 2024
73% of Digital Health Companies Use Standards-Based EHR APIs
While most digital health companies use standards-based EHR APIs for EHR integration, nearly the same number of companies reported the use of proprietary EHR APIs. Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2024
Pennsylvania HIEs, Health IT Vendor Partner on SDOH Referral Tool
Health IT vendor findhelp and Pennsylvania's Consortium of HIEs are creating a platform called PA Navigate that aims to improve SDOH referrals and drive health equity across the state. Continue Reading
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News
19 Jan 2024
ONC Publishes Draft USCDI v5 to Drive Health Data Interoperability
ONC added 13 new data elements to United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Draft Version 5, including “Sex Parameter for Clinical Use.” Continue Reading
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Answer
17 Jan 2024
How mCODE is Driving EHR Interoperability for Cancer Research
Spearheaded by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the mCODE initiative has assembled a core set of structured data elements to facilitate EHR interoperability for cancer research. Continue Reading
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News
16 Jan 2024
CommonWell Health Alliance Adds Health IT Vendor to HIE Network
Health IT vendor ModuleMD has joined the CommonWell Health Alliance to drive health information exchange (HIE) across its network of over 75,000 referral providers. Continue Reading
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Answer
28 Dec 2023
AI, Semantic Interoperability Top Health IT Trends for Next Year
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology could help drive semantic interoperability across the health IT landscape for improved care coordination. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Dec 2023
Six Interoperability Use Cases for APIs in Health Data Exchange
While barriers to the use of APIs in health data exchange exist, there are several promising use cases for healthcare, including SDOH interoperability. Continue Reading
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News
14 Dec 2023
HHS Data Strategy Looks to Expand Human Services Interoperability
A new HHS data strategy outlines several data integration goals, including expanding ONC's role to include the coordination of human services interoperability. Continue Reading
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News
12 Dec 2023
Regenstrief Foundation Funds Project for EHR Standardization of SDOH Data
A new initiative led by Regenstrief Institute and HL7’s Gravity Project aims to advance SDOH data standards within EHR platforms to drive health equity. Continue Reading
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News
12 Dec 2023
HHS, ONC Bring TEFCA Live for Nationwide Health Data Exchange
ONC designated eHealth Exchange, Epic Nexus, Health Gorilla, KONZA, and MedAllies as the first QHINs to support national health data exchange through TEFCA. Continue Reading
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05 Dec 2023
Epic EHR Integration Aims to Boost Patient Experience, Personalized Care
By providing access to patient experience data within health records, the Epic EHR integration aims to drive a more personal care experience. Continue Reading
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News
13 Nov 2023
Surescripts Applies for TEFCA QHIN Role to Drive Interoperability
Surescripts Health Information Network LLC, which supports nationwide healthcare interoperability for ePrescribing, has applied to become a TEFCA QHIN. Continue Reading
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30 Oct 2023
HHS Releases Proposed Rule for Information Blocking Disincentives
HHS requests public comment by January 2, 2024 on a proposed rule that would establish information blocking disincentives for healthcare providers. Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2023
ONC: 60% of Americans Comfortable with SDOH Information Sharing
Comfort with SDOH information sharing was relatively low among individuals who reported little or no trust in the healthcare system, ONC survey data revealed. Continue Reading
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25 Oct 2023
CalHHS Names 9 Qualified Health Information Organizations for DxF
The designation of qualified health information organizations is a major step forward in implementing the CalHHS health data exchange framework (DxF). Continue Reading
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News
16 Oct 2023
Regenstrief Links LOINC, SNOMED to Drive Health Data Interoperability
Regenstrief and SNOMED International have broadened their collaboration to drive health data interoperability between LOINC and SNOMED CT data standards. Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2023
VA Announces Health Data Sharing Pledge to Boost Veteran Experience
VA and 13 healthcare systems, including Kaiser Permanente and Intermountain, have pledged to improve the Veteran experience through health data sharing. Continue Reading
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29 Aug 2023
ONC Awards The Sequoia Project Contract to Continue TEFCA RCE Role
With TEFCA go-live slated for late 2023, ONC has awarded The Sequoia Project a five-year contract to continue serving as recognized coordinating entity (RCE). Continue Reading
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Answer
23 Aug 2023
How HIE Tools Can Bridge the SDOH Data Interoperability Gap
Across the nation, HIE networks are advancing SDOH data interoperability with community-based organizations to support value-based care. Continue Reading
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22 Aug 2023
Michigan HIE Taps Health IT to Advance Interoperability Use Cases
Michigan's state-designated HIE is implementing a health data fabric solution to drive health IT interoperability and boost scalability. Continue Reading
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15 Aug 2023
ONC Awards $2M for Health IT Interoperability Projects
Part of the ONC funding will go towards a health IT project to drive advance care planning interoperability using advanced FHIR standards. Continue Reading
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10 Aug 2023
Georgia HIE Receives Grant for SDOH Interoperability Pilot Program
The state-designated HIE will use the $200,000 grant to demonstrate the feasibility of a closed-loop referral service for SDOH interoperability. Continue Reading
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News
08 Aug 2023
Poor Interoperability Limited Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts
Poor immunization interoperability prevented many primary care practices from identifying their unvaccinated patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue Reading
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News
02 Aug 2023
83% of Acute Care Hospitals Engage in Some SDOH Data Collection
Despite a known link between addressing social needs and improved health outcomes, just 54 percent of acute care hospitals engage in routine SDOH data collection. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Aug 2023
The Role of MPI Tools in Health Data Interoperability, Patient Matching
Master patient index (MPI) tools aim to help healthcare organizations improve health data interoperability and patient matching for care coordination. Continue Reading
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News
31 Jul 2023
Health IT Vendor Surescripts Settles Antitrust Lawsuit with FTC
The FTC has reached a settlement with Surescripts that prohibits the health IT vendor from executing non-compete agreements with employees. Continue Reading
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14 Jul 2023
NYC HIE Partners with Health IT Vendor for SDOH Interoperability
The health IT collaboration will establish HIE infrastructure for SDOH interoperability across NYC and Long Island communities. Continue Reading
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News
13 Jul 2023
Civitas Adds New Members to Drive Collaboration, Interoperability
The non-profit centered on advancing healthcare interoperability has a diverse membership, including HIEs, strategic technology partners, and RHICs. Continue Reading
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Answer
12 Jul 2023
How a Patient Record 'Snapshot' is Driving HIE Data Access
Hixny, an HIE serving eastern New York, created a tool that aims to help improve data access through search and sort features. Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2023
NC Works to Boost Broadband Access to Support Rural HIE Connectivity
Efforts to improve broadband access are underway in North Carolina to help rural providers connect to the state-designated HIE. Continue Reading
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06 Jul 2023
EHR Data Quality Guidelines Needed to Drive Interoperability
The healthcare industry lacks standard EHR data quality assessment guidelines and tools, which hinders interoperability. Continue Reading
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News
05 Jul 2023
HHS OIG Releases Final Rule for Information Blocking Penalties
If the HHS OIG finds that an individual or entity has committed information blocking, they may be subject to up to a $1 million penalty. Continue Reading
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News
05 Jul 2023
HL7, WHO Partner to Drive Global Interoperability Standards Adoption
The collaboration between HL7 and WHO is set to support equitable development of and access to interoperability standards. Continue Reading
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30 Jun 2023
Georgia HIE Receives $1M USDA Grant to Improve Rural Healthcare Services
The Georgia Health Information Network is partnering with a regional HIE on a telehealth network to expand rural healthcare access. Continue Reading
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29 Jun 2023
Ohio HIE Expands Partnership to Drive Interoperability, Data Usability
CliniSync, an Ohio HIE, has selected an interoperability platform from health IT vendor Health Catalyst to improve data usability. Continue Reading
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28 Jun 2023
DirectTrust Releases Draft Criteria for RA Health IT Accreditation Programs
DirecTrust requests feedback on criteria for its updated suite of Registration Authority (RA) health IT accreditation programs until August 21st. Continue Reading
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27 Jun 2023
Epic Announces Ambient Clinical Documentation EHR Integration
The ambient clinical documentation EHR integration is set to enhance Epic workflows by automatically drafting EHR notes. Continue Reading
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16 Jun 2023
Almost Half of Hospitals Report Instances of Perceived Information Blocking
The 21st Century Cures Act Final Rule aims to curb any interference with electronic health information. Despite this, some hospitals still report possible instances of information blocking. Continue Reading
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16 Jun 2023
HIE Announces Health IT Partnership to Drive EHR Interoperability
Atlanta-based HI-BRIDGE HIE will collaborate with health IT vendor Innovar to improve EHR interoperability and reporting capabilities. Continue Reading
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15 Jun 2023
VA Officials Exploring Health IT, HIE Solutions to Improve Interoperability
At a recent House hearing, Sachin Yende, VA chief medical officer, said the agency is looking to improve veteran care coordination through enhanced health IT interoperability. Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2023
Public Health Reporting, Data Sharing Nearly Ubiquitous in Hospitals
Acute care hospitals saw a significant increase in public health reporting in 2022, with 96 percent actively participating, particularly in immunization, syndromic surveillance, and lab results reporting. Continue Reading
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News
08 Jun 2023
AWS, Interoperability Institute Partner on Virtual Innovation Center
The Interoperability Institute, a non-profit created by Michigan’s state HIE, is working with AWS on a project to accelerate health IT innovation. Continue Reading
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01 Jun 2023
51 Percent of Hospitals Plan to Participate in TEFCA HIE Framework
Hospitals participating in national HIE networks were more likely to report plans to join TEFCA than hospitals that do not share data with national HIEs. Continue Reading
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31 May 2023
Health System Completes Patient-Reported Outcome EHR Integration
EHR integration of patient-reported outcome data is set to support University of Miami clinicians in making treatment decisions. Continue Reading
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31 May 2023
Idaho Statewide HIE Changes Leadership Amidst Bankruptcy
After filing for bankruptcy in 2022, legislators have questioned how the HIE will move forward after receiving more than a decade of government support. Continue Reading
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22 May 2023
Health IT Vendor Integrates Generative AI Tool into Epic EHR
Epic EHR users can now participate in beta testing of generative AI features from health IT vendor Suki that aim to streamline EHR documentation. Continue Reading
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11 May 2023
Health IT Vendor Announces MEDITECH Expanse EHR Integration
The health IT vendor partnership extends Luma Health’s patient success platform to MEDITECH Expanse EHR customers, including patient scheduling workflows. Continue Reading
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08 May 2023
ACMI Symposium Outlines Public Health Interoperability Strategies
Experts said the public health interoperability infrastructure requires sustained funding and a workforce with skills to meet 21st-century health threats. Continue Reading
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01 May 2023
MI HIE Teams Up with AI/AN Tribe for Bidirectional Interoperability
The HIE partnership will enable patient data exchange between tribal and non-tribal providers for bidirectional interoperability. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 May 2023
How OCHIN Is Advancing Community Health Through Health IT Workforce Training
OCHIN recently received a $15M grant from the state of California to train 275 individuals to join the health IT workforce across community health centers. Continue Reading
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01 May 2023
Enabling Healthcare Interoperability with Fax to FHIR Solution
The power of fax to FHIR is becoming apparent in areas where paper-based workflows are prevalent and need to be made part of the larger interoperability ecosystem. Continue Reading
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24 Apr 2023
GAO: Small, Rural Hospital HIE Use Lags Larger Counterparts
While TEFCA could help mitigate HIE expenses for small, rural hospitals, stakeholders told GAO it doesn’t address connectivity barriers such as broadband access gaps. Continue Reading
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20 Apr 2023
HIE Consortium Releases Health Data Utility Maturity Model
The model aims to help state leaders advance the health data utility concept to address public health challenges through HIE. Continue Reading
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19 Apr 2023
Large Health IT Networks Unveil Plans to Become QHIN Under TEFCA
Joining as a QHIN under TEFCA intends to provide greater interoperability offerings and allow organizations to participate in a network that works together to share clinical data. Continue Reading
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17 Apr 2023
Microsoft, Epic Expand Partnership with OpenAI EHR Integration
According to Microsoft and Epic officials, the OpenAI Epic EHR integration will help increase productivity and improve health system financial integrity. Continue Reading
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13 Apr 2023
KLAS Highlights Innovative Partnerships for Health IT Interoperability
In its 2023 Points of Light report, KLAS showcases 25 successful collaborations centered on health IT interoperability and value-based care. Continue Reading
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12 Apr 2023
Alaska DOH Awards State HIE New Contract to Further Interoperability
The contract aims to help the HIE expand services in underserved rural and urban communities across the state. Continue Reading
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11 Apr 2023
ONC: 42% of Hospitals Reported Perceived Information Blocking in 2021
The ONC survey found that hospitals were more likely to report information blocking from healthcare providers than health IT developers. Continue Reading
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07 Apr 2023
ADA to Conduct National Survey on EDR, EHR Interoperability
The survey will gather dental providers’ perspectives on EDR and EHR interoperability to inform advocacy efforts. Continue Reading
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05 Apr 2023
Contexture HIE Upgrades to Unified Platform for Improved EHR Interoperability
The unified Contexture HIE platform will provide participants greater EHR interoperability and faster, more reliable data exchange between healthcare providers. Continue Reading
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04 Apr 2023
Nebraska HIE Expands PDMP Use for Public Health Surveillance
Nebraska used its PDMP technology to help address challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding HIE capabilities. Continue Reading
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31 Mar 2023
MEDITECH Partnership Focuses on Health Equity Data Collaboration
MEDITECH’s data collaboration with the Institute for Health Metrics aims to grow health equity data and provide hospitals nationwide with clinical and SDOH data and grant funding opportunities. Continue Reading
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30 Mar 2023
Why a Data Exchange Platform Is Vital to Healthcare Interoperability
Despite high adoption rates of health IT, there is still a clear disconnect in how health data is shared between organizations, making clear the need for a data integration platform. Continue Reading
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27 Mar 2023
EHR Vendor NextGen Launches Cloud-Based Healthcare Interoperability Tool
The cloud-based tool from EHR vendor NextGen aims to resolve healthcare interoperability challenges, such as high costs to maintain interfaces. Continue Reading
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27 Mar 2023
Oklahoma Moves Forward With Statewide Health Information Exchange Rules
Oklahoma Senate Bill 1369 mandates that all healthcare providers participate in the statewide health information exchange by July 1, 2023. Continue Reading
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23 Mar 2023
KLAS Names Epic, NextGen Top EHR Vendors for Interoperability
Epic deep adopters reported the most interoperability with in-home patient monitoring technology compared to other top EHR vendors, KLAS found. Continue Reading
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23 Mar 2023
Epic EHR Integration Looks to Streamline Genetic Testing Access
The Epic EHR integration will allow providers to access genetic testing information within their clinical workflows to support precision medicine. Continue Reading
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22 Mar 2023
OH HIE Partnership Focuses on Interoperability, Care Coordination
The Health Collaborative (THC) and Ohio Health Information Partnership (OHIP) have joined forces to enhance interoperability and care coordination, reflecting the growing trend of HIE consolidation. Continue Reading
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16 Mar 2023
Surescripts Unveils Latest Health Data Exchange, Interoperability Gains
Surescripts facilitated 21 billion secure health data exchange transactions in 2022, marking a significant milestone toward interoperability Continue Reading
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15 Mar 2023
CodeX Grows Steering Committee To Advance HL7 FHIR Interoperability
The five new CodeX Steering Committee members will help guide standards development for HL7 FHIR use cases, like genomic data interoperability. Continue Reading
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13 Mar 2023
CommonWell Health Alliance Adds EHR Vendor to Health Data Exchange
Customers of EHR vendor MEDHOST can now access and share records through the CommonWell health data exchange network of 34,000 clinical sites. Continue Reading
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08 Mar 2023
DirectTrust to Enhance Data Exchange Directory Through AWS Initiative
AWS support will advance DirectTrust’s Directory Improvement Initiative, which aims to deliver a more accurate directory for health data exchange. Continue Reading
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07 Mar 2023
Regenstrief Releases LOINC Updates to Support Health Data Exchange
Regenstrief added concepts to facilitate health data exchange for the monkeypox virus and COVID-19 evaluation methods in LOINC version 2.74. Continue Reading
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07 Mar 2023
Maryland HIE Expands Medicaid Redetermination Notification Project
The HIE notification project provides healthcare organizations with a secure report of patients facing Medicaid redetermination within the next 90 days. Continue Reading
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06 Mar 2023
ONC Outlines Health IT Interoperability Progress in Report to Congress
Health IT interoperability has grown significantly in the past decade, with 96 percent of hospitals using ONC-certified EHRs in 2021 compared to 28 percent in 2011. Continue Reading
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04 Mar 2023
Key Piece to Today’s Interoperability Puzzle: Cloud Fax
Digital cloud fax technology can fill an important interoperability need in the here and now. Continue Reading
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03 Mar 2023
3 Key Pieces to the Interoperability Puzzle: #3 Query-Based Exchange + Directed Exchange
Combining query-based and directed exchange gives clinical users a powerful tool to advance information sharing and improve patient care. Continue Reading
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01 Mar 2023
3 Key Pieces to the Interoperability Puzzle: #1 Query Based Exchange
Query-based exchange plays a key role in the sharing of patient information between healthcare organizations. Continue Reading
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28 Feb 2023
ONC, CMS Partner on Proposed Rules for HIE Interoperability
In December 2022, CMS proposed two rules that aim to align data standards across payers and healthcare providers to streamline HIE interoperability. Continue Reading
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27 Feb 2023
Memorial Healthcare System Taps Virtual Care Epic EHR Integration
The KeyCare Epic EHR integration expands patient access to virtual care providers, allowing Memorial Healthcare to widen its digital front doors. Continue Reading
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23 Feb 2023
The Sequoia Project Adds DoD, EHR Vendor Officials to Board
Representatives from Stanford Medicine Health Care, AHIMA, DoD, and EHR vendor OneRecord will bring fresh perspectives to The Sequoia Project board of directors. Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2023
ONC Toolkit Outlines Foundational Elements of SDOH Information Exchange
SDOH information exchange requires the alignment of hardware, software, data, processes, and standards, ONC officials emphasized. Continue Reading
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22 Feb 2023
DirectTrust Reports Over 72M Monthly Direct Secure Messages in 2022
The increasing number of direct secure messages sent and received via DirectTrust suggests a growing preference for direct secure messaging over faxing in the healthcare industry. Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Feb 2023
UCSF Looks to EHR Integration of Dental Records for Patient-Centered Care
An EHR integration at UCSF that merges medical and dental records is set to enhance patient-centered care delivery and foster innovation. Continue Reading
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13 Feb 2023
95% of Certified Health IT Developers Met ONC Cures Act Deadline
The ONC Cures Act Final Rule mandated certified health IT developers to provide FHIR-based APIs for providers and patients by December 31, 2022. Continue Reading