Seven national hospital associations released an agenda for healthcare interoperability Jan. 22.
America's Essential Hospitals, American Hospital Association, Association of American Medical Colleges, Catholic Health Association of the United States, Children's Hospital Association, Federation of American Hospitals and the National Association for Behavioral Healthcare joined together to urge healthcare stakeholders — such as hospitals, clinicians, insurers, EHR vendors and government agencies — to work together to overcome challenges to seamless data exchange in the industry.
"We see interoperability in action all around us," Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the AHA, said in a news release. "Mobile phones can call each other regardless of make, model or operating system. The hospital field has made good headway, but it's time to complete the job."
Six elements the hospital groups said provide the foundation for healthcare interoperability:
1. Security and privacy
2. Efficient, usable solutions
3. Cost effective, enhanced infrastructure
4. Standards that work
5. Connecting beyond EHRs
6. Shared best practices
"Hospitals are joining together to support improving interoperability because it is the key to assuring the best for our patients," said Chip Kahn, president and CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals. "Quality care depends on having the right information at the right time, so our patient's records need to be available in the hospital or wherever our patients receive care."
To download the "Sharing Data, Saving Lives: The Hospital Agenda for Interoperability" report, click here.