US Announces Agreement on Health Data Interoperability

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS; Washington DC, USA) has fostered an agreement on health data interoperability between providers and healthcare information technology (IT) firms.

More than a dozen leading professional associations and stakeholder groups pledged to implement three core commitments that will improve the flow of health information to consumers and healthcare providers. The first commitment is to help consumers easily and securely access their electronic health record (EHR) information, direct it to any desired location, learn how their information can be shared and used, and be assured that this information will be effectively and safely used to benefit their health and that of their community.

The second commitment is no information blocking by helping providers share personal EHR information with other providers and their patients whenever permitted by law, and not block EHR information, defined as knowingly and unreasonably interfering with information sharing.

The third commitment is to implement federally recognized, national interoperability standards, policies, guidance, and practices for electronic health information, and adopt best practices including those related to privacy and security. Many of the market leaders are embracing the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) Interoperability Standards Advisory, a coordinated catalog of existing and emerging standards and implementation specifications that is updated annually in order to keep pace with developments in the health IT industry.

“Today I am announcing that companies providing 90% of electronic health records used by hospitals have made a public commitment to make data work better for consumers and providers,” said Sylvia Burwell, secretary of the HHS, at the annual meeting of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). “Consumer access remains a challenge; it's great to have an electronic record, but if that record can't be easily accessed by doctors and patients because of funky technology, then we aren't consistently seeing the benefit.”

“We commend HHS for bringing so many stakeholders together, all of whom have an interest in using technology to result in a healthier and more efficient health care system,” said Steven Stack, MD, president of the American Medical Association (AMA; Chicago, IL, USA). “Patients and physicians are in this effort together because patients need easy access to their electronic health information, confident that it is secure and can be shared to benefit their health, and physicians need these electronic records to be interoperable to ensure that patients are receiving the best care possible.”

Many of the biggest health IT developers have already committed to using standardized application programming interfaces and Health Level 7 (HL7) fast health care interoperability resources (FHIR), so that user-friendly devices, such as smartphone and tablet apps, can quickly be made market-ready and compatible with one another. The use of a single shared standard for communicating among devices will make it easier for consumers to access their test results, track progress in their care, and communicate with their providers.

Related Links:
US Department of Health and Human Services
American Medical Association