Interoperability and Standardization in Healthcare System Integration

For the enhancement of patient care and outcomes, the integration of smart technology into electronic health records (EHRs) requires standardization and interoperability. This chapter analyzes the advantages and challenges of merging EHRs with smart technology while paying close attention to process compatibility and data uniformity. The merger of wearable technology into EHRs can enable real-time monitoring of patients, which could greatly change healthcare; however, data privacy, security, quality, and device compatibility issues remain. Healthcare systems must implement policies that enable the effortless transfer of data between smart devices and EHRs and ensure their seamless incorporation into existing workflows. Achieving interoperability requires standardization of data format and method of communication, as well as device connection. This essay examines the existing models, standards for integration of healthcare systems and offers an integrated smart device-to-EHR model framework. Interoperability is achieved when there is consistent exchange of data through the application of standardized data models such as Health Level 7 Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources. Lastly, the essay stresses the need for collaboration among providers, device manufacturers, standards creating bodies, and regulators to ease and promote standardization in the integration of healthcare systems.