Healthcare organizations are facing an influx of patient data, both coming in and going out of their organization. Whether communicating with patients, research and development findings, or assessing utilization management with contracted healthcare payers, data is the key to fueling modernization and improving patient outcomes while implementing a Value- Based Care Model.
But 81% of IT leaders say that their critical data is sitting locked in silos, preventing innovation and thus, hindering patient satisfaction.1
Improving Care Outcomes and Managing Risk and Compliance
Successful healthcare organizations know that having interoperable data, both across clinical and non-clinical systems, is central — not just for Value- Based Care, but to satisfied, loyal patients.
When data is shared seamlessly and accurately, patient outcomes improve, while the cost of care is simultaneously reduced.2 Interoperability across systems ensures that patients are billed correctly the first time, receive fast referrals, and ultimately hold the power to be in control of their own healthcare journey. These patients are more likely to be proactive with their preventative healthcare, such as annual exams and bloodwork, rather than waiting to seek healthcare in only acute or emergency situations. All of this helps lower healthcare costs and increase life expectancy across populations.3
As of May 1, 2020, the Interoperability and Patient Access Final Rule implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, holds U.S. healthcare providers accountable for interoperability by way of regulation.4 The goal of this legislation is to give patients access to their data when they need it, and also further protect that data at the same time.
Under this final rule, those providers and institutions who do not have their digital contact information readily available to patients, and/or block a patient’s ability to receive their healthcare data, will face stiff fines and public reporting of their malfeasance.5
If we know that interoperability and seamless data sharing cuts costs, improves patient outcomes and satisfaction, and is required by federal law: why is implementing it so difficult? The answer lies in the technology to make it happen. Creating interoperability can be cumbersome and laborious — but it doesn’t have to be, and that’s where MuleSoft comes in.
How MuleSoft Helps Enable Interoperability
MuleSoft from Salesforce, is the key to seamless, secure, integration and automation for interoperability. Named a Leader by Gartner in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for iPaaS for multiple years, there’s a reason why we are working with many of the nation’s leading healthcare organizations.
At MuleSoft, our API-led integration breaks down data silos and fosters interoperable data across clinical and non-clinical systems. Using our HIPAA compliant Anypoint Platform, both technology and business teams have what they need to foster interoperability at the source.
Anypoint Platform also includes healthcare-specific connectors, including the Anypoint Connector for HL7 EDI and FHIR F4 Resources, designed with API specifications, data types, and libraries built to meet government regulations and compliance when it comes to FHIR R4 standards.
Using MuleSoft’s integration and automation tools gives both patient and staff advantages. Take a look at MuleSoft customer Nebraska Medicine where reduced call times enabled call center agents to consolidate information and reduce the swivel chair effect of jumping between different screens during patient interactions.
At organizations like Nebraska Medicine they created a one-stop-shop for their contact center. Using MuleSoft, they have improved efficiency and reduced the swivel-chair effect between multiple applications. WIth this, they have been able to create metrics that have been used for identifying areas of advancement and improvement. From a technical standpoint, Nebraska Medicine has realized multiple reusable assets while using MuleSoft that have since expanded and continue to be used with minimal effort.
Integration and automation with MuleSoft is designed with the user in mind so that IT teams can spend less time integrating and more time innovating while they focus on the user experience. This gives all end users a more enjoyable experience, whether it’s from a patient portal perspective or through an employee lens across any clinical or non-clinical role.
MuleSoft, Creating Healthier Connections and Bolstering Innovation in Healthcare
The digital future of healthcare is happening right now and MuleSoft is here to foster interoperability and new developments as they come. With changing regulations, an unpredictable global healthcare scene, and patients who expect and deserve the best care and access to their data, there’s no better time for organizations to take integration and automation to the next level with MuleSoft.
To learn more, visit https://www.mulesoft.com/integration-solutions/soa/health-care and reach out to me at ACushman@salesforce.com.
MuleSoft’s unified integration, automation, and API management platform, powered by Einstein 1, transforms all of your IT assets into digital building blocks to deliver end-to-end, AI-powered experiences. Customers can connect, automate, and secure their data from any system or model, using discoverable and reusable APIs to generate increased revenue and cost savings.
1MuleSoft Research 2024, Connectivity Benchmark Report, January, 2024, file:///Users/alexacushman/Downloads/ms-report-2024-connectivity-benchmark-report.pdf
2Wang YC, Zenooz A, Sriram RD, et al., editors, “Procuring Interoperability: Achieving High-Quality, Connected, and Person-Centered Care,” National nstitute of Health, National Library of Medicine, 2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK594855/
3Huynh , Kim and Nazim, Dzabic , Fierce Healthcare, “Industry Voices—Interoperability can cut health costs by $30B. But this needs to happen first,” Fierce Healthcare, August 25, 2020, https:// www.fiercehealthcare.com/tech/industry-voices-interoperability-can-reduce-healthcare-costs-by-30 b-here-s-how# :
4CMS.gov, “Interoperability and Patient Access Fact Sheet,” https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/interoperability-and-patient-access-fact-sheet
5CMS.gov, “Enforcement and Compliance,” https://www.cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/burden-reduction/administrative-simplification/enforcement