The state of interoperability varies between different types of hospitals, and smaller, rural hospitals are less likely to be able to electronically send, receive, find and integrate clinical information, according to an ONC data brief.
Here are seven findings from the data brief, which examines the state of interoperability as of 2015.
1. Just 15 percent of rural hospitals were electronically engaged in all four domains of interoperability, 17 percent of critical access hospitals were engaged in all four domains, and 18 percent of small hospitals were.
2. For comparison, 30 percent of non-critical access hospitals were engaged in all four domains, and 34 percent of suburban, urban and medium and large hospitals were engaged in all four domains.
3. However, approximately 80 percent of all rural, critical access and small hospitals were electronically sending summary of care records, and close to 60 percent were receiving such records. Around 40 percent were able to query patient information from outside sources and 30 percent were able to integrate summary of care records into their EHRs.
4. In 2015, providers were most likely to receive summary of care records from outside hospitals (40 percent), followed by outside ambulatory care providers (37 percent), with 23 percent receiving such records from long-term care providers and behavioral healthcare providers.
5. They were most likely to send summary of care records to outside ambulatory providers (61 percent) and outside hospitals (59 percent). Forty-nine percent sent records to long-term care providers, and 35 percent to behavioral healthcare providers.
6. To send such information, 76 percent of hospitals use an EHR secure message, 60 percent use a health information organization or another third party, and 48 percent use a provider portal. EHR secure message was also the most popular way to receive messages.
7. Sixty-one percent of hospitals nationwide participate in a HIE and a health information organization. Thirty-one percent use a HIE but are not part of a health information organization, 2 percent are in an HIO but not an HIE, and 5 percent use neither.
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