Importance of interoperability to healthcare information
Interoperability refers to the extent to which devices and systems can exchange data and also interpret that data in a user-friendly manner (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). When used in healthcare it means that the data will be shared across laboratories, hospitals, patients, physicians and pharmacies regardless of the vendor each of these uses.
Interoperability stands to reform the current chaotic manner in which information is shared among hospitals. The operability also allows one to access medical records from virtually anywhere in the world unlike in the past when it had to be obtained through financial accounts and emails. Interoperability also reduces ambiguity and allows faster data transfer (Department of Health and Human Services). I am of the opinion that interoperability through a medium such as the internet would be an appropriate way to ensure that the poorest patients can have access to medical information which helps them to make decisions.
The role of privacy and security is principally to prevent health information from reaching unauthorized people and to make it available whenever it is required by physicians, health insurance companies and any other authorized entities (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Privacy and security also protect the information from malicious damage by a person or from being corrupted electronically through computer viruses and other malware. This can be done by storing the information in some virtual storage such as is the case with cloud computing.
Health information technical standards are important in ensuring there is consistency in the capturing and sharing of health information (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). The technical standards also support interoperability to a high degree.
The importance of administrative and physical standards to healthcare information includes ensuring integrity, confidentiality, and availability of such information. The standards also provide the leadership of the protection of healthcare information.
Works Cited
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Interoperability vs. Health Information Exchange: Setting the Record Straight. Web 30 March 2016: http://www.healthit.gov/buzz-blog/meaningful-use/interoperability-health-information-exchange-setting-record-straight/ U.S.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Health Information Privacy, Guidance Materials for Consumers. Web 30 March 2016 from http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html
